Bristol Homelessness Week: Nightstop

Bristol Homelessness Awareness Week has been set up to raise awareness of homelessness, those at risk of becoming homeless and the issues facing rough sleepers. A number of organisations, including Nightstop which offers young people a bed for the night, are opening their doors this week to show how they support the city’s homeless.

“Sharing your home for the night is a small thing really,” says 80-year-old Bridget Smith.

For the past two years she has welcomed dozens of young people at risk of rough sleeping into her home. 

Bridget volunteers for Bristol Nightstop, which has a network of hosts offering vulnerable young people a bed for the night – and support and compassion. 

“You meet very interesting people who, if they speak enough English, have some very interesting stories to tell,” says Bridget.

Over the years the retired probation officer has offered a bed to people from across the world.

“They’ve come from Poland, Romania, Sudan, Somalia and Angola,” says Bridget. “You see the journey that many of them have made on television but these young people have actually made that dreadful journey,” she adds.

“A lot don’t want to talk about it because it has been so awful and it makes you thankful for the life you’ve had yourself.”

The trained and vetted Nightstop volunteers give coordinators dates when they are free to host and are paid £12 expenses.

“Some young people just want a bed and watch television or use the computer, others want to talk or play games or music,” says Bridget. 

24-year-old Simon found himself homeless after his relationship broke down. He sofa surfed between friends and family for a while, but was eventually forced to sleep rough on the outskirts of the city.

“I was really low cause I didn’t think there was much help out there,” he says.

“I didn’t really feel safe to be honest because I was sleeping in a field with a tent.”

After staying with three different Nightstop hosts he said he was astonished that people would welcome strangers into their homes: “I didn’t think people were so generous to help homeless people out.”

The idea of welcoming strangers into your home may not be something everyone feels they can do, but Bridget says she has never had any problems and being a host has been a “huge pleasure”. 

“They are polite and, without exception, grateful,” she says.

Helen Ashley decided to be a Nightstop host when her son went on his gap year

Nightstop host Helen Ashley says she gets “as much out of it as the young person”.

“I tend to cook with them but I’m very much led by the young person. Some want to chat others are shattered because they have been walking round all day and all they want is a shower and a good night sleep.”

She decided to join Nightstop when her son went on a gap year and she had a spare room.

“I thought why not – I wouldn’t want a young person on the streets because that makes them vulnerable especially women.”

People who are at risk of rough sleeping all have different stories – sometimes it’s mental health issues other times they are escaping violence at home, says Helen: “One woman was waiting for a place at a refuge centre – they couldn’t take her that night so she stayed with me.”

Dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in the city the charity makes sure that the homes they go to are safe and all of the hosts are vetted and checked.

“It’s quite scary for a young person to go into a strangers house without knowing anything about them,” says Helen “so it’s important they can trust you”.

A place to sleep is just part of the package of care that Nightstop offers.

Whilst he was staying with the volunteer families, Nightstop helped Simon make referrals and appointments and he was placed in a hostel: 

‘I’ve lost it all and now I realise that I want to sort it all out and then restart afresh…I want to get a flat and literally sort my head out and then get back into work.’

If you have a room and bed spare and would like to volunteer for Nightstop contact them at www.bristolnightstop.org.uk. Full training and support is given.

If you are aware of a person that is rough sleeping, please contact Streetlink by clicking here.  A member of their team will make contact with the person to help them into emergency short stay accommodation.