object reference not set to an instance in user control

i am trying to enter a value into a texbox that is placed inside a user control called CollectionRequest. i have referenced this user control in my code behind and created an instance of it but i seem to get the above error when i try to enter some manual text. code as follows:
 protected CollectionRequest collReq;
protected void Page_Load( object sender, EventArgs e )
        {
            collReq = (CollectionRequest)LoadControl("~/CollectionRequest.ascx");
            TextBox _txt_address = (TextBox)collReq.FindControl("txt_Address");
            _txt_address.Text = "thisi is an address";
control has been referenced in source file
<%@ Reference Control="~/CollectionRequest.ascx&qu ...