A SCHEME designed to prevent homelessness among the young is to start in the Hambleton and Richmondshire areas.

The team behind the pioneering Nightstop project is this week beginning work to develop the scheme across the districts, by working with local communities.

The scheme has already been successfully launched in areas such as York, Ryedale and Darlington. The project co-ordinators will be working closely with the local authorities.

Both district councils made a bid to fund the scheme as part of a Government initiative to address the issue of homelessness and were jointly awarded £12,500.

Hambleton's head of environmental health and housing, Eric Kendall, said: "It is recognised that such a scheme will be a great contribution to alleviating homelessness in the district."

The head of housing at Richmondshire, Sara Smith, said: "The scheme should make a real contribution to our homeless service, particularly our work with young people."

Nightstop provides emergency overnight accommodation for vulnerable young people in the homes of trained volunteers.

Project co-ordinator Carol Robinson said: "This project can really make a difference in the community by giving young people a safe and secure option when they might be faced with the prospect of nowhere to go."

The Nightstop model of emergency accommodation is a proven community response to youth homelessness that has been in existence since 1987 with more than 40 schemes in operation throughout the UK.

The Hambleton and Richmondshire project will be working closely with the existing schemes in York and Ryedale.

Although work to develop the scheme starts this week, it is expected that Hambleton and Richmondshire Nightstop will not go live until January next year.

Project director John Walker said: "We have to gear up for the scheme by recruiting and training the volunteer hosts and making contact with the other agencies in the area.

"January may seem a long way off but we have quite an extensive training programme and our experience elsewhere indicates that is the right timescale."

Anyone wanting to find out more is asked to contact Carol Robinson, project co-ordinator on 0870 2406921.