10 October 2024
South Today, the BBC’s flagship regional news, sport and weather programme for the south of England, is to broadcast a special film on 11 October (2024) championing the work of Dorset Nightstop – a member of the Homelessness Partnership BCP.
Dorset Nightstop, run by Action for Children, provides emergency accommodation for young people aged 18-25 who are at risk of homelessness in the BCP area and Dorset.
The service’s network of trained volunteer hosts offer a bed for the night, helping to prevent young people from ending up on the streets – which can be especially traumatic for youngsters in crisis who often feel they have nowhere to turn.
The partnership was delighted to receive a visit from Edward Sault (pictured, above), Senior Journalist and Presenter at South Today. Edward was keen to make a film after learning that Dorset Nightstop had been awarded the partnership’s ‘Hero of the Month’ title in September.
Crucially, the film helped to highlight Dorset Nightstop’s urgent appeal for more volunteer hosts in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. New hosts – who can be families or individuals – are needed to help rising numbers of young people with nowhere safe to call home.
BBC South Today kicked off with Sam, an inspirational 26 year-old from Weymouth who had previously been put up by Nightstop hosts and is keen to share his story to help other young people who might find themselves in similar scenarios.
From his story of how he found out about Dorset Nightstop to his personal experience of arriving at a host’s front door, Sam’s journey offered insight into how the charity’s hosts and support team helped him through a difficult period in his life.
Sam (pictured right, with Edward) told BBC viewers how Dorset Nightstop helped him to turn his life around for the better. Admitting that some days were hard, he says each host “made him feel welcome and safe, like they wanted to help”.
He points out that hosts went out of their way to make sure he was comfortable and had what he needed.
Support wasn’t limited to putting a roof over Sam’s head. Hosts and Dorset Nightstop staff helped with transport, ensuring he could get to appointments to find housing, as well as to Citizens Advice and his job coach. They even helped him to embrace his passions once again – fitness and playing football.
Having stayed with several host families, Sam is now successfully housed, working as a carpenter and a model example of how Dorset Nightstop can transform young lives, even in challenging situations.
To persuade more people to consider joining Dorset Nightstop’s family of hosts, hearing the experiences of local volunteers was imperative.
Steve and Gillian (pictured above with Edward), who have provided a room for seven young people through Dorset Nightstop, rose to the challenge, inviting BBC cameras into their home in Bournemouth.
The couple told BBC South Today viewers how they create a welcoming environment for young people in crisis, providing a safe room for the night, an evening meal and breakfast, washing and laundry facilities.
Steve and Gillian’s caring and compassionate nature shone through – from providing a listening ear and friendly advice over meals to playing board games and watching TV with their young guests, while respecting the privacy of those who needed time alone in their room to come to terms with unfamiliar surroundings.
The couple had even built an under-cover outdoor seating area in their secluded back garden, so young people staying in their home could relax outdoors, surrounded by the calming influence of plants, wildlife and their cats.
Their generosity extended to transporting guests, too, helping young people staying at their home to get to college or work, ensuring that a sense of stability prevailed.
It was over to Maddy Lewis-Smith (pictured, above), Dorset Nightstop’s Service Co-Ordinator, to shed light on why demand for the charity’s service is rising – and why more volunteer hosts in BCP are being sought.
Family breakdown was highlighted as the primary reason for youth homelessness in Dorset. In 2020 and 2012, Dorset Nightstop provided 201 safe nights, called ‘bed nights’, but in 2022 and 2023 this figure rose steeply to 527 bed nights – a 162% increase.
Although young people can now self-refer to the service, referrals from BCP consistently make up around 50% of Dorset Nightstop’s referrals. In the year to March 2024, BCP referrals increased further, reaching 56%.
With many volunteer hosts living in rural Dorset, more are urgently needed in BCP. For a young person, being able to remain in the area while briefly staying with a host avoids the anxiety of having to be transported to unfamiliar surroundings some distance away in the countryside.
Safeguarding was another key issue, with Dorset Nightstop’s robust risk assessments and tried-and-tested procedures for protecting hosts and young people put under the spotlight.
Hosts receive training, screening and DBS checks, plus an interview with BCP Housing. For young people, boundaries are agreed. They must be back at the host’s property by 10pm; must always be respectful and abstain from alcohol and drugs. Young people do not remain in hosts’ homes if they’re not there – during the day, for example.
Hosts Steve and Gillian were keen to point out that they have never experienced a problem with their young guests, which is testament to the strength of Dorset Nightstop’s safeguarding systems.
The final word went to Cllr Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, who gave an overview of how partnership members collaborate in the BCP area and intervene at an early stage to prevent young people from falling into homelessness.
Cllr Wilson told viewers how Dorset Nightstop is part of the Homelessness Partnership BCP – a group of 55 local organisations that have signed a charter committing to “end homelessness in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole by ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home”.
He also talked about how BCP is one of six trailblazer regions for Homewards – a five-year programme created by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
This autumn, Homewards will unveil a Local Action Plan that will demonstrate that together it’s possible to end homelessness, making it rare, brief and unrepeated.
With so many services working in partnership, driven by their commitment to end homelessness, the film offered hope to young people who may have previously thought there was nowhere to turn – and a guiding light to those who are considering becoming volunteer hosts.
The Homelessness Partnership BCP is extremely grateful to presenter Edward Sault and the BBC South Today production team for featuring Dorset Nightstop and its outstanding work to help young people in crisis.
If you live in the BCP area and would like to volunteer to host a young person, email dorsetnightstop@actionforchildren.org.uk or visit https://service.actionforchildren.org.uk/dorset-services
Young people at risk of homelessness should contact Dorset Nightstop on 01202 525643. For more information visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk/dorset
All images copyright of the Homelessness Partnership BCP.
