Do You Have A Spare Room? Could You Be A Volunteer Host?

Published on: 8 Aug, 2016
Updated on: 8 Aug, 2016

A new Volunteer Host Service to provide emergency accommodation on a temporary basis for 16 to 21-year-olds, at risk of being homeless, has been set up by Surrey County Council (SCC).

The service relies on volunteers to offer a spare room to young people in need for one to three nights.

“Volunteer Hosts” will be expected to provide a safe and secure environment for young people to stay when they’ve had to leave their family home for a number of different reasons.

SCC are looking for volunteers to welcome a young person to stay in their home for a couple of nights, while their family situation is assessed and longer term accommodation, if necessary, found.

According to the SCC website: “If you have a spare room, aged 25 and over and think you could help make a difference to a young person in Surrey, you could be a Volunteer Host.”

We welcome anyone from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and circumstances…”

Volunteer hosts must:

Have a spare bedroom
Give access to communal facilities such as a kitchen and bathroom
Commit to offer a young person to stay for one to three nights at least every three months.

Support and training for volunteer hosts is provided and £15 is paid for each night a young person stays, to cover expenses.

New volunteer hosts need to complete a DBS check that will be funded by Surrey Youth Support Service.

More information can be obtained by contacting Debbie Searle on 07891 533051 or email: yssvolunteer.hosts@surreycc.gov.uk.