Nightsafe is changing the course of young lives in Blackburn with Darwen. The charity supports 16 to 25-year-olds facing or at risk of homelessness, offering more than just a place to stay. From emergency beds to long-term housing, Nightsafe also provides emotional support, life skills and the confidence young people need to move forward.
At The Gatehouse, one of Nightsafe’s housing projects for care leavers aged 16–18, Jolene Bateman, 40, has become a steady, reassuring presence that young people know they can count on.

Jolene, who lives in Clitheroe, began her journey with Nightsafe two years ago, which started out as something that simply worked for her situation. “I joined the Gatehouse part-time as a support worker,” she recalls. “I’m a single mum and I was at university, so it just fit really well at the time.”

But what started as a flexible role to fit around her life quickly transitioned into something much more meaningful.

“I was a troubled kid and I just happened to have parents that cared, so they pulled me back from going down the wrong path,” she admits. “I never thought I’d work with teenagers, but I think it works because I can empathise with them.”

The Gatehouse supports young people transitioning out of care, helping them handle everything from finding their first job to learning how to budget or cook a meal. Many arrive with complex histories – foster care, family breakdowns, emergency moves – and Jolene adapts her support to each personality. Currently, the project is home to four teenage boys.

“These young men aren’t here because they’ve had an easy life, but I’m a big believer that everyone deserves a second chance. That’s why I like to be here, to get to know them independently and not just drop in and out.”

Working with young people in crisis isn’t without its challenges, as some find it hard to engage and every individual brings different needs. “It can be really tough when someone shuts you out or doesn’t want to be here,” Jolene says. “But you can’t give up on them and you just keep showing up.”

For Jolene, it’s not the big milestones that matter most. It’s the small, everyday wins that show real progress. “It’s the little things, like when they come and speak to you after not opening up for six months, or when you see that moment they trust you. That’s what really sticks with me.”

One story that Jolene is particularly proud of involves a young man who came to the project. Over time they worked on language skills, behavioural management and everyday life skills. She smiles as she talks about how he’s now getting ready to live independently. “He’s such a capable young man now, who deserves to move on and be happy.”
Beyond day-to-day support, she puts just as much care into creating a place that feels safe and stable. “For these lads, home means feeling secure, having people around you that you can trust, and knowing someone’s there when you need them,” she says. “That consistency makes all the difference.”

Jolene’s belief in the young people she supports is unwavering. “Don’t underestimate how brilliant these young people are – some of them are made for great things.”

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