Depaul UK

05/06/2026

Thank you you to all our incredible Nightstop volunteer hosts across the country. 🫶

We’re so proud to be part of a community who open up their homes to young people in crisis. Giving them a warm welcome, listening ear, and a chance to feel safe again when they need it the most.

Because of our Nightstop volunteers, young people don’t have to face a night on the streets. Instead, they’re given space to breathe, reset and move forward.

That’s an incredible gift and this Volunteers' Week we’d like to thank each and every one of you.

Your generosity and willingness to be there when it matters most makes an enormous difference. 💛

04/06/2026

“The simple act of opening up your home goes such a long way.”

Andy and Michelle are volunteer Nightstop hosts who open up their spare room to young people who have run out of options.

Nightstop offers a young person in crisis the chance to reset and start again.

With over 24 million spare rooms across England, could yours be the moment a young person feels safe enough to start again?

This Volunteers' Week, hear more from Andy and Michelle about why they love hosting.

https://www.depaul.org.uk/have-a-spare-room-you-could-keep-a-young-person-in-crisis-safe-tonight/

02/06/2026

For a young person facing homelessness, one safe night can change everything.

Through Nightstop, a young person in crisis is offered a safe place to stay with a trained and vetted volunteer host who opens their home for the night.

This simple act of kindness provides safety, stability, and support at a critical moment. 💫

With an incredible 24.4 million spare rooms across England could you be our next host? 🏠

Find out more this Volunteers' Week: https://www.depaul.org.uk/have-a-spare-room-you-could-keep-a-young-person-in-crisis-safe-tonight/

01/06/2026

Across England there are millions of spare rooms that could help change a young person’s story.

Data from the 2021 census shows that 24.4 million households have one spare bedroom or more.

At the same time, too many young people are facing homelessness often due to family breakdown, unsafe housing or rising living costs.

Without somewhere safe to stay, they can be left at risk of rough sleeping, exploitation and worsening mental health.

Through Nightstop, we connect trained and vetted volunteer hosts with young people in urgent need of a safe place for the night.

For a young person in crisis, Nightstop can mean safety instead of the streets, and the first step towards stability and a better future.

Could your home offer a safe place to stay? Find out more about volunteering: https://www.depaul.org.uk/nightstop-volunteer/

27/05/2026

Today we share some important news!

On 31st December 2026, Mark McGreevy OBE, President of the Depaul Group, will step back from his leadership position.

Since Depaul's founding in 1989, Mark has led with integrity, ensuring that those experiencing hashtag are supported with dignity, compassion and care.

Thanks to Mark's visionary leadership, the Depaul Group is best-placed to meet the challenges driving homelessness globally.

As the challenges continue to grow, the continued commitment of our donors, partners and supporters, alongside the support of new individuals, organisations and funders who share our vision, will be vital if we are to deliver our long-term ambition of ending homelessness for as many people as possible.

Read the full statement from Matthew Carter OBE, Group CEO Depaul International and Helen O'shea, Chair of Trustees at https://lnkd.in/d4JMmB6u

22/05/2026

Abi had a flat. But she didn’t have a kettle. Or a bed. Or anyone to help her cope. She felt completely alone.

Our team worked through the practical steps she couldn’t face. They helped her apply for grants, set up bills, and secured a bed, mattress and curtains for her flat.
When money was so tight she was eating just one meal a day but we made sure she knew how to access food support too.

That support was a turning point.

Today, Abi feels confident living independently. She’s completed a teacher training course and is now helping other young people at risk of homelessness.

But many young people don’t have a safety net to fall back on when they move into a home of their own. Even small, unexpected costs can quickly become overwhelming.

That’s where practical support – like access to small grants to cover a kettle for a hot drink, a top-up on the meter, or the travel fare to an interview – alongside emotional support, can make a lasting difference.

Read Abi's story: https://www.depaul.org.uk/stories/abis-story/

21/05/2026

Eight of our client reps discovered the thrill of Outward Bound at the Eskdale centre in the Lake District, stepping outside their comfort zones and discovering what they’re capable of. 🧗

Through Yasmina’s eyes, we see confidence, resilience, and new skills take shape.

We love celebrating those who take on new challenges and push themselves further. 💫 👏

30/04/2026

For many young people, homelessness doesn’t start on the streets. It starts at home.

Abi’s story is one of them.

From a young age, she cared for her younger brother while trying to cope with the pressures of a difficult home life. Over time, it became overwhelming.

Abi lived in a constant state of anxiety never knowing when things might erupt. She even kept her belongings packed, ready to leave.

By sixth form, things had reached crisis point, home was no longer safe, and she had to find a way out. Eventually, Abi was offered her own flat.

But having a place to live didn’t mean she was safe. The flat was completely bare. No bed. No support. Abi had no idea how to pay bills or cope alone.

Overwhelmed, Abi avoided moving in and spent months sofa-surfing. She was struggling to cope, feeling alone and coming dangerously close to facing homelessness again. This is the moment where the right support from someone who cares can change everything.

If you’d like to know what happened next and how, with tailored support and guidance, Abi begin to rebuild her life - please read Abi's story.

Many of us rely on support from our families when setting up a home. For the young people we work with, that safety net is missing. For Abi home was no longer safe and she had to find a way out. Eventually, she was offered her own flat. But having a place to live didn’t mean she was safe. The flat...

29/04/2026

“It gave me more confidence to try more ingredients. I normally steer away from.”

That’s how one of our clients from Middlesbrough described his experience at a recent cooking class delivered at our drop-in centre for people who sleep or have slept rough in the town.
He even went back to his Depaul-supported flat and cooked himself a curry!

The cooking sessions, delivered in a relaxed, welcoming environment, focused on building confidence, sharing skills, and enjoying food together. Vegetable bingo and an emoji food quiz helped everyone quickly feel at ease.

Together, the group created simple, affordable, and nutritious meals, from hidden veg pasta to homemade pizzas and protein-packed flatbreads, while also exploring practical cooking tools like air fryers and slow cookers.

Over time, those attending grew in confidence, supported one another, and took pride in what they achieved.

These sessions, pioneered by Care Partnership (P*P) and Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) are part of a wider programme supporting people to shape better systems and services through lived experience, co-production, and collaboration.

23/04/2026

Every night, our amazing Nightstop volunteers welcome young people in crisis into their homes, offering safety and care when it’s needed most.

In 2025, this support provided 4,155 safe bed nights across the Nightstop network for young people at risk of homelessness.

Nightstop is more than a place to stay. Alongside a bedroom, hosts offer a hot meal, a shower, and a chance to breathe while we work to secure longer-term support.

We’re deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity of every volunteer who makes this possible. 💛