By Melina Cannon

REDDITCH Nightstop has joined forces with a housing association to tackle homelessness among 16 to 25 year olds in the town.

Nightstop and St Basil's, which delivers floating support to young tenants through the Supporting People scheme, launched a new project on Friday to offer young people a room with a host family and then provide them with their own accommodation.

The launch took place at the Kingfisher Centre from 1-4pm, when shoppers and visitors were invited to talk to St Basil's and Nightstop staff, as well as volunteer hosts and young people who are now in their own accommodation.

Redditch Nightstop co-ordinator Gill Groom said: "It's a privilege to work with young people who present themselves as homeless to us and are at their most vulnerable, working with them to secure safe, appropriate accommodation.

"This is hard but enjoyable work. When we can look back at the day a person arrived at Nightstop and saw themselves as a failure but six months on or so when they are fully settled in their own home, confidently approaching everyday life, everything seems worthwhile."

Tracy Hobday, St Basil's resettlement and floating support team leader, said: "St Basil's works in partnership with many agencies across the region to better the chances of young people in housing need.

"We are really excited about this partnership and see it as an opportunity to further support young people in the region at the point where they need that help most, and that's in their own towns and neighbourhoods."

For more details, call Siovhan Sands on 64623 or Gill Groom on 66036.