{"id":7683,"date":"2024-11-22T15:25:58","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T15:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/?post_type=stories&p=7683"},"modified":"2024-11-22T16:06:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T16:06:43","slug":"nightstop-hosts-hannah-and-clare","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/stories\/nightstop-hosts-hannah-and-clare\/","title":{"rendered":"Nightstop hosts: Hannah and Clare"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cMusic helps us connect with young people at risk of homelessness who stay the night in our home when they need help the most.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hannah, 33 from Newcastle lives with her partner Clare and they try to host young people at risk of homelessness at least once a month. They say that they get a lot of joy out of meeting people they wouldn\u2019t usually get to meet, and have learned a lot from the young people who come and stay with them for the night.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe know how lucky we are, to own in our early thirties, so we wanted to make sure that we were putting our spare room to good use\u201d, said Hannah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The couple bought their first home last year, which is a Victorian terrace house, with three bedrooms. Hannah is a music therapist, and when she started hosting young people, at risk of homelessness, she didn\u2019t anticipate how her work would also impact the people who arrive at her door, in need of somewhere to stay for the night.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hannah adds: \u201cI teach music therapy and work in a SEN school in Newcastle, and Clare works on a farm in Yorkshire with young people, especially those who are struggling at school or having difficulties at home. We met each other at a community choir I set up at the end of our road six years ago. I think the work that we do has helped us when it comes to hosting in many ways. For example, our experiences with young people have taught us how important it is to listen and to be open-minded – not to assume things about people. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI discovered Nightstop because I saw people going in and out of the church building on the street we were living in before we bought our house, and discovered it was being used to help young people find somewhere to stay for the night. Then I met someone at a singing group who told me more about the service, and how much training and support is given. It seemed like a no-brainer to me to sign-up and be part of the community of other volunteers who help.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople tend to be surprised that we host young people who we don\u2019t know, and they say \u2018that\u2019s a lot, and that\u2019s quite a big thing to do’ – I think there\u2019s still so much stigma about homelessness and the causes behind it. All the young people who come to stay are really vulnerable, and it\u2019s not their fault they need the service. They\u2019re often also very scared, and tired. Every time we\u2019ve had someone to stay, it\u2019s worked out really well, and the Nightstop team are always at the end of the phone for both us, and the young person if we need them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think the service are really thoughtful about who they place the hosts. As women, I have to admit, we were initially cautious about hosting young men at first, but we are fine with it now, and have never felt unsafe.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cA great way we connect with the people who stay for the night is through music. One of the first questions I like to ask is what kind of music they like. As a result, I\u2019ve discovered some lovely music through people that come to stay. One evening I found myself listening to lots of Ethiopian reggae, which reminded a young man of his home. Another person loved the artist that sings \u2018sail away\u2019 – Enya – so we put on her album and that was really nice.\u00a0 One time, a young lad found my guitar in our living room, and asked if they could play. Of course I said yes,\u00a0 and he started playing so skillfully – the tunes were Bossa Nova, which is a Brazilian style of music. I played some piano at the same time, and it was lovely. It\u2019s that balance to give them space to do their own thing and opening opportunities to chat and do something normal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hannah said that hosting for Nighstop helps the couple from feeling helpless, as it\u2019s a practical way of supporting people who need it the most, and a small thing which could make all the difference in someone else\u2019s journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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