Couple help 300 homeless youths with spare room

A couple who opened their door to homeless young people say their spare room has given 300 of them a second chance.

Roy and Marian Muir have been offering emergency accommodation in their Mirehouse home, in Whitehaven, Cumbria, as part of charity Depaul UK's Nightstop scheme for 10 years.

They said the decision to help was as simple as seeing an advert in their local newspaper and realising they had the room to take people in.

"It's a crucial time when you're in your teens, you may have just left school and then there's upheaval at home - or whatever the circumstances - and it can have a devastating effect if there's no-one there to help," Mrs Muir said.

The retired couple said the length of time people in need would stay with them varied depending on their circumstances and the availability of more permanent accommodation.

Mr Muir said: "We have one person at a time, but sometimes you have them for maybe a week or longer - it depends on the situation and the availability of places where they can go permanently."

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, the couple said once they hosted a young girl for two months while she was studying for her A-levels.

"We gave her the time and the space that she needed," Mrs Muir said.

"That was very rewarding for us because they couldn't find her a suitable accommodation because of her situation, but she managed it."

The charity trains and makes checks on volunteers before placing young people with them.

The couple said that meant they were not nervous when they started welcoming people.

Mrs Muir said she was mindful some young people were finding themselves "uprooted" from their families and familiar surroundings.

"At such a young age, having to go to stay with strangers, it must be really nerve-wracking for them," she said.

"The first night it's crucial that we settle them down and explain our rules, if they want privacy they've got it - it's just reassuring them that it's a safe environment."

Although they are not allowed to keep in touch with people once they leave their home, the couple said some made requests to be placed with them again if they ever found themselves in need.

"You're helping people to a better life and you're giving them a second chance at improving their conditions," Mr Muir said.

The couple added their time volunteering had been a positive experience for them.

"Over 10 years, we have never personally had any problems with the young people that we hosted," Mrs Muir said.

"We've had some laughs and good time, once they get over that first night, they settle quite quickly."

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