In a heartwarming first-ever Nightstop reunion, an ex-guest has been reunited with the hosts who welcomed her into their home and kept her safe so that she didn’t have to spend another night sleeping in her car.
Yasmina, a university student who had been living in her car outside Newcastle city centre when she first met Nightstop hosts Mark and Elisabeth, travelled back to the couple’s home in Whitley Bay earlier this month to reunite as part of a TV package for the BBC.
Now with a full-time job in the charity sector and volunteering as an ambassador for Depaul UK, Yasmina’s new life is a far-cry from the desperate situation she was in when she first met them over a year ago.
It was thanks to our Nightstop service, which places predominantly young people at risk of homelessness into the homes of trained and vetted volunteers for the night, that she was able to find safety and get the help she needed to move forward with her life.
More than a year on, Yasmina was incredibly excited to meet the couple again and to tell them just how far she has come, thanks to their initial support. Yasmina says she credits Mark and Elisabeth for their unwavering support during her most vulnerable moments and for playing a critical role in her journey from crisis to stability:
“I’ll never forget the warmth and safety I felt when I stepped into Mark and Elisabeth’s home, it wasn’t just a roof over my head; it was the conversations and encouragement that gave me hope and reminded me of my worth.”.
Mark, 75, a retired Bishop, and wife Elisabeth, who works part-time as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in General Practice, have welcomed nearly 100 people at risk of homelessness into their home in the last decade.
Reflecting on the experience with Yasmina, Mark said: “Yasmina is an incredible person. All she needed was a chance and someone to believe in her.”
He told the BBC: “Mostly, we don’t know the story afterwards, but be able to get a glimpse, it makes each new guest going forward even more special”
Mark and Elisabeth say that in the ten years they’ve been hosting, they have never once felt uneasy. Mark added: “I think it’s a combination of being warm and helping people to relax and feel at home. My sense is that on the first night, people are saying, ‘What are the rules?’ And so, it’s about helping them to relax, telling them gently what happens, and I think that helps to give them some security.”
Mark also has a special first-night dish that he likes to cook for his guests. A potato stew with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and served with flat bread. “We’re lucky in our kitchen because they can come and sit there and have a cup of tea with a cake or whatever while I’m cooking and if they want to talk, it’s a nice space for them to do so – and while I am cooking, we can chat.”
Mark and Elisabeth’s incredible generosity and Yasmina’s inspirational story show just how life-changing the care and kindness of strangers can be for young people who find themselves in crisis.
This winter we’ve launched an urgent appeal following a 55% increase in demand for our Nightstop service, compared to the same period last year. The cost-of-living, lack of affordable housing and a reduction in support services means more young people are facing homelessness and urgently need our support.
