“We’ve hosted more than 300 young people at risk of homelessness in the last decade”
Roy and Marian have supported more than 300 people at risk of homelessness. They give them the opportunity to stay the night in their spare room, provide a warm meal and provide access to all the home comforts from their semi-detached house, which they share with their cat, in Whitehaven, Cumbria.
The couple, both retired, say that supporting the next generation is something they’re very passionate about, and they’ve no plan to give up volunteering yet.
Marian has always supported young people, and before retirement she worked as a career’s advisor, and says this experience lends itself nicely to helping the young people who stay with them. She reminds them that they’ve got their whole lives ahead of them, and this is just one moment in time, and better days will follow.
Speaking about their experience as volunteers for Nightstop, an emergency accommodation service run by Depaul UK, Roy said:
“At first, our children – who are grown up now, were concerned about us hosting people we didn’t know in our house. However, I can’t express how wonderful it’s been and how safe it is too, as Nightstop ensure they do all the right checks and they’re there around the clock. It’s also flexible, and we let them know when we’re free to host. Often, the young people who arrive are exhausted, scared and have fallen out with family members and just need a safe place to stay for the night until more suitable accommodation can be found, or they return home.
“We’ve been Nightstop hosts for ten years now, and during that time we’ve met some fantastic people as you can imagine. We would say that the majority of people we’ve hosted have gone on to achieve good things, because they’ve been helped by us, and others who believe in them.
“A couple of people we’ve hosted used to live in Africa, and as I served there, I knew a lot about where they were from – it was great to find common ground, and surprise them with all my knowledge. I think they found it hugely reassuring too.
Marian adds: “I also remember another young man we had to stay, he was having a hard time with his parents, who asked him to leave because he’d quit University. When he came to stay with us, he was so nervous. He told me he felt like giving up. People don’t always open up in this way, and we’re not expected to be councillors, but I used to be one at the college I worked for, so I couldn’t help but encourage him since he was so open with me. We never know what becomes of the young people when they leave us, but when he left, he told us he was wanting to graduate, and I believe he did, which was so great to hear.
“We know not everyone has the space to host people, and we’re lucky to have a spare room, but if they do, I’d encourage people to consider it. It’s such a unique volunteering opportunity because you can see the difference between when people arrive, to when they leave the next day, after a good night’s sleep and, I like to think, it gives them a bit of faith, knowing that there are people who care about them.
“On a practical level, it’s already quite easy, and I think we get as much out of it as the people that come here and stay do.”
