COULD you offer help to a homeless young person in Dorset?

A charity is looking for people living across the county - especially in Bournemouth - to house a homeless youngster for a few nights a month, or to befriend and mentor young people in care, or as a volunteer driver.

Action for Children says that volunteering to help its Dorset Nightstop and Dorset Independent Visitors projects could help transform young lives.

Nightstop provides temporary emergency accommodation to young people aged 16 to 25 for up to three nights a month, and the service is urgently appealing for residents to offer their spare room to a young person through them.

Dorset Independent Visitors needs volunteers to be trained up and matched with a young person from care, meeting every month or so to go out, have fun and provide a listening ear. Both services are also looking for volunteer drivers.

Action for Children's Simon Keys, said: “Put simply, we couldn’t do what we do if we didn’t have our fantastic hosts and independent visitor volunteers – and we’re looking for people across the region to make a New Year’s resolution to help a young person in need.

“By giving a vulnerable young person a safe and secure home for a few days means you could stop them from sleeping on the streets; or you could make the world of difference to someone in care just by being a friend to talk to. We’ll even make sure we match you with someone who shares similar interests.”

One person who knows how rewarding this type of volunteering can be is Independent Visitor Sue Mellor, 57, from Bournemouth, was matched with Holly, 17, from Poole, three years ago. Sue said: “The second I saw Holly we both clicked, and we just didn’t stop talking.

“We now meet up about once a month but it’s not rigid, we make it work around both our lives. It’s just like any normal friendship – we phone or text each other to see if we fancy going for a walk or out for a coffee.

“It’s great fun, you’re incredibly well supported by Action for Children but I guess for me it’s the privilege of being there alongside a young person who’s faced some challenges and watching them flourish and bloom.”

Holly said: “To have someone who genuinely wants to listen and be your shoulder to cry on if you need to is an amazing feeling.

“I can go to Sue with a lot of things, she’s so lovely. She doesn’t know the ins and outs of my life, she doesn’t need to. We just have fun together.”

Both positions receive full training and support as well as expenses.

*More information from Simon Keys on 01305 753 657 / 07779 029 292 or simon.keys@actionforchildren.org.uk.