EACH year, thousands of youngsters across the country find themselves homeless. For many, life then becomes a constant stream of nights in hostels followed by long, cold days out on the streets. But in Hyndburn a scheme which not only provides youngsters with not just emergency accommodation but hope for the future, is continuing to blossom. Reporter DAVID HIGGERSON met the staff and residents of the Hyndburn Christian Stable.

JAMES BIERNET knows how important the Hyndburn Christian Stable is. Quite simply, he says: "It saved my life. If I hadn't come here, I would be dead now."

The 18-year-old left his Scottish home in March after life with his parents became unbearable. He travelled to Manchester, where he found himself on the streets, lucky to find a hostel to sleep in overnight.

He also found himself, as he put it, "being used by undesirables."

"Eventually, I ended up in Blackburn and that is when I heard about the Stable. I came up here and things have started to get better."

James has now lived in the emergency accommodation at the Hyndburn Christian Stable, in India Street, Accrington, for four months. He has been enroled on various courses which develop his life skills and plans are afoot for him to move in with a guardian who will watch over him as he gets his life back on track.

Although James' story sounds extreme, Hyndburn Christian Stable co-ordinator Barbara Fishwick insists his tale is not unusual.

She said: "He isn't exaggerating when he says he would be dead. He was very vulnerable and seeing him progress in the way he has done is very rewarding. The undesirables were circling around him." The Hyndburn Christian Stable first opened its doors in 1994. The scheme was the brainchild of the Rev Alan Fishwick, then the vicar of St Andrew's Church in Accrington, and Barbara's husband.

She said: "On Christmas Eve 1992, a young man, cold and hungry, turned up on our doorstep. He was desperate and homeless. We took him him, providing him with a hot meal and someone to talk to.

"The old school next door to us was derelict but he asked to stay there and it did put a roof over his head. Undoubtedly, it saved his life."

Eight years on and that same school is unrecognisable, following its transformation into the Hyndburn Christian Stable. It was bought for £40,000, payed for by the Church Urban Fund, and renovated by local people and charities. The CUF paid for it to run for four years, then, in 1998, a partnership with St Vincent's Housing Association was formed.

The building was renovated again, creating seven flats which homeless youngsters now live in for up to one year while permanent accommodation is sought for them. During that time, the youngsters also take part in life skills courses.

The second transformation was completed last December, and a community facility has also been added to get more people into the centre. Barbara added: "We now have four emergency rooms here and the seven flats. The emergency rooms are used for about a fortnight while we try and find new accommodation for the youngsters who come here.

"James has stayed in them for four months which is longer than normal but it is better he stays than be pushed into accommodation which is unsuitable for him.

"We look at each case individually because everyone has different problems. When we sort people out, we want them to be sorted for good."

There are several reasons why youngsters end up on Barbara's doorstep, including:

'Step-parent syndrome' where one parent decides they don't want the teenager around any more so they are turfed out. Some parents even drop their children off at the homeless shelter;

Falling out with parents generally, making life at home unbearable. Sometimes life in the shelter is better;

Leaving a children's home at the age of 16 with nowhere else to go;

Coming out of prison, again with nowhere to go. There are plans to extend the centre's work to include a Asian outreach worker, as well as bringing more community events into the centre and opening a new centre in Mill Hill, Blackburn.

All the ideas depend on whether the project receives any government money or is successful with bids for lottery cash.

Barbara added: "For me, this is a vocation, a chance to do some good.

"We provide them with more than just somewhere to go. Thanks to this project, they learn life-skills and have somewhere to live so they can get on with their lives."

And, as James testifies, sometimes save their lives.

He added: "I cannot say how grateful I am. For the first time, I am looking to the future."