A charity is appealing for volunteers to open up their homes to young homeless people.

Bradford Nightstop provides emergency accommodation for the homeless in the homes of trained volunteer hosts.

Volunteers are asked to provide a spare room, a warm evening meal, a shower or bath, clean clothes, and facilities to wash their clothes.

The following day they provide breakfast, a packed lunch and bus or taxi fare to wherever the young person needs to go - college, work or an agency helping them find employment and/or accommodation. All expenses are paid by Nightstop.

The scheme, which trains volunteers and organises the stop-overs, is available to homeless people aged between 16 and 25 who are actively seeking long-term accommodation.

Nighstop's new project co-ordinator Bev Johnson said the idea was to provide emergency accommodation as soon as young people become homeless, before they get used to life on the streets. "Research has shown that after four weeks people become "acclimatised" to being homeless," said Bev.

"We try to provide accommodation in a home environment as early as possible."

Bev has opened her own home to homeless people and found it a rewarding experience. "It's nice to know you're providing such a positive service and helping to break that four-week cycle," she said.

"Our hosts often say it's opened their eyes to the issues of homelessness and they realise it can happen to anyone."

A range of people become volunteers, including single people, retired couples and young families.

"It's very flexible," said Bev. "We appreciate that some people have commitments and often aren't free until the evening so we have a "late bed" of 9.30pm to 10pm. The most vulnerable time for a homeless young person is overnight."

Nightstop has about 60 volunteers and needs more hosts, particularly as the holiday season approaches.

Volunteers are asked to open their homes on a one-night-at-a-time basis. Nightstop, which is partly funded by Bradford Council, grants and donations, was one of three homeless organisations in the city to receive cash from a campaign run by the charity StreetSmart.

Backed by the Telegraph & Argus, it involved diners in Bradford restaurants adding £1 to their meal bills for the homeless.

Nightstop's £2,070 slice of StreetSmart funding will go towards clothing, toiletries and transport.

As well as providing accommodation, Nightstop raises awareness of youth homelessness by visiting schools and community groups.

"We challenge stereotypes and provide information about the services available to young people so they can talk to someone if things are bad at home, rather than making themselves vulnerable to homelessness," said Bev.

Anyone interested in becoming a Nightstop volunteer should ring (01274) 776888.