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SussexNightstop HomelessCharity
220 Charity Profile Sussex Nightstop
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Brighton and Hove has one of the highest rates of rough sleeping in England, with numbers increasing since 2010. A 2021 Shelter report cited Brighton and Hove as the second highest ranked local authority outside of London, with 1 in 78 people in the City experiencing homelessness. Additionally, polling conducted by ComRes, in 2017, suggested that two-fifths of 16-25-year-olds in the UK have sofa-surfed at one time because they had nowhere else to live and that one in ten of these young people did so for more than a month in total. Sussex Nightstop, Executive Director, Alison Marino tells me, was founded in 2009: “By a handful of determined locals who were moved and motivated by the visible experience of young people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Brighton and Hove. “Local residents motivated to make a practical difference” “Local residents became increasingly aware of the number of young people they saw sleeping rough in the City, “And wondering how they might make use of the assets they held within their spare rooms they looked further afield to see how other communities were responding and discovered the Nightstop model.” Nightstop originated in 1985 in Leeds, where local church groups responded to the problem of young people rough sleeping through homebased hosting. The first formal Nightstop service launched in 1987 and Sussex Nightstop is now one of over 33 Nightstop services across the UK, accredited by the youth homelessness charity DePaul Uk, and operating across the Brighton and Hove area. Providing practical solutions through collaboration and kindness Nightstop, Alison says, is a community-based response to homelessness. “We believe that through collaboration and kindness, people power can provide practical solutions with big impact. Keeping young people safe from the very real and known dangers whilst providing them with housing advice, wrap-around support and kindness provides the very best chance for a young person to flourish and reach their potential.” The model has a reassuring success rate, “Over 75 per cent of young people who stay with Sussex Nightstop go on to achieve a safer place to call home – our ultimate goal.” The concept behind Night stop is, Alison explains, simple. People see the injustice of roughsleeping and homelessness and they want to respond. “We facilitate that by recruiting and training them to open up their spare rooms on a nightly basis and in a safe way to young people aged 16-24 years experiencing homelessness.” Every young person who stays with Nightstop is carefully appraised and vetted by the charity’s small team of highly skilled staff, ensuring that Nightstop is the best place for that young person, and working closely with them during their stay ensuring they have access to, “The advice and support they need to make a positive next step in relation to their housing.” ‘’I have come such a long way since finding Nightstop. We have been on such an amazing journey together, I have had such a positive experience.” – a young Sussex Nightstop Guest. Currently Nightstop has a pool of seventeen host households, all of whom are supported by a 247, on-call service. Alison describes the hosts as, “The lifeblood of what we do. Their kindness, freely offered at a point of crisis, often has a profound impact on young people.” Alison explains that all of Sussex Nightstop’s volunteers undergo a robust recruitment process. Volunteer hosts will undertake interviews and home checks, will undergo Enhanced DBS checks and be trained in the policies and
procedures of the charity’s Host Handbook, covering an overview of homelessness and the experiences of young people, the importance of communications, hosting boundaries, safe hosting measures and safeguarding. “Through their roles as volunteer hosts, on-call volunteers, community champions, business ambassadors, trainers and trustees they bring huge breadth and depth to the work that we do. Having the broadest and most inclusive representation across our volunteer and staff team is what we aspire to.” “Young people need Nightstop and they need us for longer” Which brings us to one of the greatest challenges facing Sussex Nighstop – a need to re-grow its host volunteer pool, following a reduction in numbers thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst at the same time cost of living increases and steep rent rises leave young people with few options and a greater demand for Sussex Nightstop’s services. The charity is seeking new hosts particularly, but not exclusively, in the Brighton and Hove area, people willing to offer their spare room for short nightly stays, ranging from four to seven nights
Nightstop team
in a row. Although sometimes only one night is needed. Nightstop welcomes all people, regardless of colour, ethnicity, race, faith, gender, sexuality or ability. Although, Alison points out that the service is “Disproportionately used by young people of colour - being 60 per cent of our placements last year. We would like our host pool to reflect this and particularly welcome applications from hosts of colour.” Alison summarises the qualities sought in volunteers: “The ability to treat everyone with dignity and respect, without judgement and to be able to volunteer within the boundaries of the scheme, with a commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of young people. No formal qualifications
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are required but strong communication skills, patience, understanding and commitment are all sought after.” In addition to the 49-strong volunteer team the charity has a paid team, of 27 full time equivalent staff, “Governed and supported by a highly experienced and professional board comprising six Trustees.” “We move out of Covid into an ever-challenging funding environment” Alison Marino tells me that Sussex Nightstop is funded through a range of income streams. “We enjoy support from the local authority, the fundraising of schools, churches and other community groups and are enthusiastically supported by local businesses who understand clearly the vital contribution that they can make to the problem of homelessness facing young people living in the community in which they operate.” Which brings us to the charity’s other challenge: Post-COVID, Alison explains that Sussex Nightstop faces an ever-challenging funding environment. “Building on the generosity of our varied supporters to date we are looking to grow that supporter base and welcome the opportunity to speak and collaborate with businesses and community groups who would like to make a material difference to the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. “ Fund raising activities are therefore of vital importance and the charity is building on the success of its 2019 ‘Sleep Safe’ campaign, encouraging people to share on social media to generate new donor support, and increase collaboration with local businesses. Alison Marino says, “We are really excited about our Autumn Tryathlon event on 16 September. With volleyball, a quiz and baking contest there is something for everyone and we are inviting businesses to join us on the day for a lot of fun.” “Susse x Nights top.” Alison conc ludes, “welcomes the generous support of all members of the community. By following and sharing our socials you help us to reach new and different audiences that can get behind our cause.” Contacts: Liz Wakefield – Volunteer enquiries, Tryathlon and Business enquiries. Call 07887 492872 or email liz.wakefield@sussexnightstop.org.uk www.sussexnightstop.org.uk
A warm, relatable & hilarious show in Hove
Lloyd is back with a brand new, fresh stand-up show for 2023. This is his biggest tour to date, and he is pumped. Since school Lloyd has always been a show off, doing anything he can to make people laugh, and 20odd years later, nothing’s changed. There’ll be his unique bag of stand up, dubious impressions, and obviously a sprinkling of his (incredible) singing. Lloyd was recently one of the first national anthem singers to sing the new anthem (with ‘King’ instead of ‘Queen’) at various football matches around the country. As a boy he always wanted to play for Grimsby Town FC, but instead he was able to perform on the pitch before the Grimsby v Crewe Alexandra match, to a packed crowd. He has also appeared in Ted Lasso, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Soccer AM, Flinch, Comedy Central at The Comedy Store, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club, Can You Beat The Bookies?, Roast Battle, Question of Sport, Not Going Out, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and loads of other stuff. He was also Jack Whitehall’s arena tour support. Win a pair of tickets to see Lloyd Griffith: One Tonne of Fun on the 3rd February 2023 at The Old Market at 7.30pm. For more information visit www.lloydgriffith.com
Win a pair of tickets to see Lloyd Griffith
To enter answer the following question: Q: How many years has Lloyd been a comedian? a) 20 b) 10 c) 5
Send your answer and contact details to: Lloyd Griffith Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or you can enter online at: w w w . s u s se xl o c a l . n e t/ f e a tu r e s / co m p e ti ti o n s Winner drawn after 22nd January 2023. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.
Gifting & inheritance tax planning
By Oliver Suter DipPFS, financial adviser
Investment solutions group photo
Christmas is the time for giving, and with inheritance tax thresholds frozen until 2026, let’s look at the gifting allowances in terms of inheritance tax planning. Gifting is a great way to reduce the value of your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Gifts to spouses and charities are exempt but the government also makes allowances for some gifts. Annual gift allowance Each individual can gift £3,000 a year, without it being added to your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Wedding Gifts Individuals are allowed to gift £5,000 to children, £2,500 to grandchildren or £1,000 to other relatives or friends as wedding gifts. Gifts of less than £250 You can give up to £250 to as many individuals as you want, providing they haven’t received a gift of your whole £3,000 annual exemption. If you have any questions on gifting or require inheritance tax planning, please contact us. ‘Investment Solutions’ is the trading name of Investment Solutions Wealth Management Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
