People in Bradford are being asked to sign a cardboard box this week to raise awareness of youth homelessness in the district.

The stunt has been organised by Bradford Nightstop, a charity providing emergency accommodation for homeless young people aged 16 to 25.

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, was first to sign the large box, containing a duvet and pillow, in the foyer of the Carlisle Business Centre where Bradford Nightstop is based.

The charity's volunteers take homeless youngsters into their homes for one night only, giving them a hot meal, a bath and a change of clothes.

The Bishop said: "There are more homeless young people than there are opportunities to help them. We need more people like Nightstop's volunteer hosts who can open their homes and give young people a breathing space, a sanctuary where they can take stock before moving on to hopefully re-build their lives.

"When young people leave home, or are kicked out, they're not really thinking about what they're doing.

"Vulnerable young people can easily fall into the arms of those taking advantage.

"Nightstop shows them that someone cares and trusts them enough to invite them into their home.

"It comes at a time when young people perhaps feel that nobody trusts or cares about them. We think of asylum in terms of people coming into the country, but these hosts are providing asylum too, for vulnerable young people who have nowhere else to turn."

Bradford Nightstop co-ordinator Bev Johnson said 800 young people had been referred to the charity over the past year.

"They come from all cultural and social backgrounds," she said. "The 16 to 18-year-olds tend to become homeless because of a family breakdown and for the older ones it's often a case of a failed relationship.

"Homelessness can happen to anyone. Many of our volunteers are parents and they often say it could happen to their children as much as anyone else's.

"One young man we've helped has just received his degree. For six months while he was studying he slept rough, on benches and in shop doorways. Some of the youngsters we deal with are in employment, and a small number are still at school. We've had young people referred to us from 27 out of the 28 state secondary schools in Bradford.

"We'd like people to come here on Thursday and sign the box. If we get it covered in signatures it will say to decision-makers that there's a large number of people in Bradford who want to make a noise about youth homelessness and want more facilities for the homeless.

"We'd like to have enough hosts to match the numbers of homeless people referred to us. Until that happens there just isn't enough accommodation and we have to turn people away. On 190 occasions over the past year we had no beds left.

"We often take young people in over Christmas but for that to continue we need people willing to open up their homes during the festive period."

Miss Johnson hopes civic leaders will sign the box. "We'll have to see who comes along," she said. "We've contacted every Bradford councillor by e-mail but haven't had any replies yet!"

Leaflets and posters about Bradford Nightstop have been distributed and Miss Johnson hopes the campaign will encourage new volunteers.

"We need more hosts, people who can provide a spare room on a one-night-only basis, and we need volunteer telephone contacts, taking calls from agencies like the police and social services who refer young people to us," she said.

  • Anyone who wants to sign Bradford Nightstop's box can do so on Thursday from 1pm to 4pm in the foyer of the Carlisle Road Business Centre, Carlisle Road, Manningham. Information about Bradford Nightstop will be on display and a promotional video will be shown. For more information ring (01274) 776888.
e-mail: emma.clayton @bradford.newsquest.co.uk