When Amanda first walked through the doors of Nightsafe more than two decades ago, she had no idea she would end up becoming such a key part of the charity.

Back then, Nightsafe had just two housing projects, a day centre and a small team of 16 staff. Today, Nightsafe has grown into a vital service in Blackburn with Darwen, with five housing projects and nearly 50 staff working to support young people aged 16-24 who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Amanda, 58 from Hyndburn, has been there through it all to help steer that journey of growth and impact.

With a background in youth work, housing resettlement and outreach, Amanda has brought a unique blend of compassion and practical expertise to Nightsafe. Over her 22-year career at Nightsafe, she’s worked as a support worker, as well as in the Day Centre and now as the Night Shelter and volunteer coordinator.

Starting off her career as Day Centre coordinator, Amanda has spent years providing not only structure, but a steady presence in the lives of young people. “I’m at the Day Centre four or five times a day, just to check in,” she says. “Sometimes it’s playing a game or having a chat, but that’s often when you find out what’s really going on.”
She recalls one young man quietly struggling in his new flat, sleeping in his clothes because he didn’t have bedding. “He was too frightened to ask for help. He thought he should manage on his own. But we got him sorted.”

Now overseeing the Emergency Night Shelter and volunteer programme, Amanda’s role is just as hands-on. The Night Shelter provides up to five young people each night with a safe and warm place to stay. Open 365 days a year, it’s a vital point of first contact for many who arrive with nowhere else to turn.

Amanda coordinates staffing, manages accommodation, ensures safeguarding protocols are met, and works closely with both international volunteers and local staff to keep everything running smoothly. “I do all the DBS checks, the inductions, risk assessments, flat checks and everything else in between,” she explains. “I’ve been here so long, I know how everything works.”

The key to her approach is creating a safe and non-judgmental environment. “It’s about listening, letting them talk and treating them with respect,” she explains. “Sometimes they’ll cook a meal together and sit down like a family. It changes the way they see the place, and themselves.”

The young people Amanda works with come from a vast range of backgrounds – some from foster care, others fleeing abusive homes or cultural pressure, and many who’ve never had a support network. “You get the ones who just haven’t been taught how to manage life,” she says. “But then you see them learn, move on and build something.”

She still lights up when she talks about the young people who have used Nightsafe’s services that came back to visit. “One night five lads ran up to me in a restaurant. I’d worked with all of them and they were in work gear, all on a construction site together. They just wanted to say thanks. That’s the most rewarding part.”

Her message to potential supporters is heartfelt and urgent: “These young people are our future and our community. I never thought I’d still be here 22 years on, but I am because there’s still so much more to do.”

Do you fancy being a volunteer like Amanda?

Why not find out how you can Get Involved, and make a real difference to a young persons life.