Guernsey charity's volunteer appeal to help homeless youngsters

The charity offers training and support to its volunteers, as well as reimbursement of expenses associated with carrying out the role

Guernsey's Action For Children charity has appealed for volunteers in a bid to tackle youth homelessness.

The charity said it needs volunteers to provide urgent temporary accommodation to homeless people aged between 16 and 25.

It said its youth housing project helped more than 60 young people in 2023.

Services manager Aaron Davies said the help of volunteers could be "life-changing" for vulnerable people.

The charity said its nightstop service places a homeless young person with a host family for up to five nights.

'Amazing volunteers'

During this time the service works to find longer-term solutions, it said.

In 2023, as part of its Indicators of Poverty report, the States estimated more than 1,000 men, women and children were insecurely housed - an increase of about 50% since 2016.

Mr Davies said providing a young person with a safe space could be an "essential first step in building a positive future".

"We just couldn't provide the support we do without our amazing volunteers, who tell us it's hugely rewarding to see first hand the difference they're making," he said.

'Hidden homeless problem'

Annie Ashmead, Deputy CEO of Citizen's Advice Guernsey said homeless rates were "on a par with last year", when figures hit a record high.

She said in 2018 the service had 14 clients who were homeless or in danger of becoming so, but that that figure had now doubled.

"I'd say very much it's a hidden homeless problem in Guernsey" she said, alluding to "sofa surfing" and staying with friends or family.

"I would urge anyone who feels they are in this situation where they are experiencing being homeless.. to come forward and contact organisations... so the government can realise what the true scale of the problem is."

Chris Murray has launched his own campaign to help the homeless

Meanwhile, Guernsey resident Chris Murray is on a mission to raise awareness with a social media campaign dubbed House the Homeless.

He said he was encouraging people to lobby the states on the issue and has been handing out black ribbons to promote the cause.

He said he had started collecting sleeping bags, quality clothing, mats and rucksacks to deliver to people on the streets.

He said: "We started this campaign for awareness to help get something done to house the homeless.

"Hopefully our government will do something sooner rather than later."