Oscar Wilde said "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Since we started Street Angels in 2005 and CNI (Christian Nightlife Initiatives) Network in 2008 we have supported, helped and resourced around 150 local projects to start. We have worked locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to set up projects that are: professional; adhere to various guidelines; offered support; celebrated for all they do and as such are held in high esteem as examples of outstanding community and voluntary action.
Sadly there are an increasing number of groups who are setting up Street Angels projects outside of the support, guidelines, legality and advice CNI Network offers. Whilst we are not precious about the name we are precious about the reputation and professionalism that every project that is part of CNI Network upholds. Only those projects, including Street Angels, listed on cninetwork.org/projects are linked to CNI Network and as such will be operating within a high professional standard. Projects who may well use the branding and/or name not listed on our website are outside of the jurisdiction and support of CNI Network and as such we have no responsibility for their actions. CNI Network, December 2019
The last Friday before Christmas saw our Street Angels teams across the UK gearing up for Mad Friday - generally one of the busiest nights of the year. Many teams were featured on local radio talking about the work they do and the SafeNightOut.party advice. The Sunday Mirror spent the night with Leeds Street Angels and will hopefully feature our work this coming Sunday. Team handed out Christmas chocolates to those we partner with including pub and club staff, Police and Ambulance staff, etc. Below are some pictures shared on social media from our local projects on Mad Friday and a Facebook Live video from Paul (CEO of CNI Network) and Katie (CNI Regional Coordinator Yorkshire and Leeds Street Angels) filmed just after midnight.
Our founder and CEO, Paul Blakey MBE, is one of the speakers at a symposium 'The Role of Faith in Healing Divided Communities' on Saturday 28th March 2020 at Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London.
The aim of the symposium is to open a discourse between faith and community groups and to develop a way forward in ensuring positive outcomes for our communities. Speakers and participants will include representatives from different faiths as well as community organisations and other stakeholders. For more information visit www.bcsinterfaith.com To book visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/faith-united-2020-tickets-79502438935 Counter Terrorism Policing have opened up an award-winning counter terrorism training course to anyone who wants to learn how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour and understand what to do in the event of a major incident: This is ideal for volunteers within our local projects, community groups, church leaders, etc - https://ct.highfieldelearning.com
Pip Moscrop, one of the founders and coordinator of Street Angels Macclesfield, was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours. On behalf of CNI Network we sent congratulations for this truly deserved honour and asked Pip a few questions...
First of all congratulations on a highly deserved honour! Tell us some more about how you found out and received your Honour: I was amazed and delighted to learn that I had been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Macclesfield in the Queen's Birthday Honours List; it was totally unexpected! This was presented at an investiture by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs, at Tatton Hall, a stately home in Knutsford, in November (see the picture below). You have given and invested a tremendous amount for the community of Macclesfield and Street Angels isn't the only initiative you are involved in - tell us about other projects you are working with: I have been involved with the Churches and what they do together in Macclesfield for fifteen years as the Co-ordinator of Hope in North East Cheshire - thirty-nine Churches working together in mission in our communities. I became Chair until 2017, of one of the Hope charities, Cre8 Macclesfield, a youth and community programme, based in the Moss Rose estate, one of the most disadvantaged in Macclesfield. As Hope built relationships with the authorities, and the Church Leaders and those in the Churches worked more closely together, there was growing recognition that much could be done through social action. In 2012, with the invaluable help of Paul Blakey and Christian Nightlife Initiatives, we established Street Angels Macclesfield which is highly regarded by the authorities and has not missed a Saturday evening in seven and a half years. Hope's winter weekend nightshelter, WHAM (Winter Homeless Accommodation in Macclesfield!) was implemented in the winter of 2014/15. Hope in North East Cheshire is an innovative and growing ministry - what is your latest project? We are blessed to have so many committed Church Leaders who meet regularly, strengthening their personal relationships and discussing what the 4,000 or so people who attend the Churches could do together. The most recent social action initiatives are Macclesfield Community Kitchen and Project Grow, an integrated surplus (free!) food collection and distribution service, implemented by Cre8 Macclesfield! Well done and thank you on behalf of the wider CNI Network family Pip Moscrop BEM for all you have done and will do in the future with the church community towards making Macclesfield a better place to live, work and socialise. Any final comments? My wonderful award is recognition of this amazing journey and all those who have contributed to it!
Scarborough Street, Youth and Community Angels held an annual Christmas celebration with volunteers and guests including police, the Mayor of Scarborough and Paul and Katie from CNI Network. The evening included carols, drama, talks from some of the guests and refreshments.
A quote from Chief Inspector Jez Taylor of Macclesfield Police about the Macclesfield Street Angels:
"As the Chief Inspector in charge of policing in Macclesfield, I just want to take this opportunity to THANK YOU. I have been involved in policing in and around Macclesfield for the past 15 years or so and I have seen first-hand the impact your work has on the town centre at night. You give up your time through all weathers and at times of the night that some people don’t know exists, to make our town a safer place." Source
A new ministry based from a double decker bus in Dewsbury has been officially declared open for passengers by Bishop of Huddersfield Jonathan Gibbs. On Wednesday December 4 the Bishop joined the team running the new ministry, Destination 211, for worship and prayer on the bus before the first after school session began. Dewsbury Team Parish and Dewsbury Church of the Nazarene have set up a partnership with the Christian Nightlife Initiatives to form the ministry. Their vision is to use the bus in order to build up community, to reach out to people on housing estates with the good news of Jesus whilst offering practical support, such as access to food banks and Christians Against Poverty. Revd Neil Walpole, who heads up the project, said: “This is a really exciting ministry, with over twenty people from different churches in Dewsbury taking a part in different ways as we reach out with the love of Jesus through our words and action.” The bus opens to the public in time for the end of Orchard Primary School’s day, when it becomes a drop in for parents and their children who are served with cake and drinks. The drop-in session includes a Bible story and craft, some games and songs. In the New Year the ministry will also begin outreach to young people with the aim of starting a youth church on the bus. The ministry has already been active, with a light party held on Halloween and a presence at the Christmas light switch on in Dewsbury, where hundreds of people enjoyed Christmas crafts. Bishop Jonathan said: “It was a real joy to be with Neil Walpole and the rest of the team in Chickenley for the official opening of the Destination 211 Bus. “This is a fantastic new ministry among the children and young people in a community that faces many challenges – taking the Christian message out from the church and onto the streets – quite literally! “Christians from a number of churches in Dewsbury have come together to purchase and kit out the bus as a brilliant venue for children and families to meet, eat, have fun and learn more about the love of Jesus Christ. “It was a very cold afternoon but we were well fed and warmed with hot tea, hot dogs and seemingly endless cakes. “Huge congratulations and very best wishes to everyone for the future of this very exciting project.” A few years ago BBC Radio Leeds created this jingle (from 2:50) as part of a Mad Friday feature - as we come into Christmas office party season do share the SafeNightOut.party tips... ![]()
Huddersfield Street Angels are part of a campaign to keep people safe over Christmas - read the article here.
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ROC Angels - an initiative of ROC (Redeeming Our Communities)
Charity - 1139817 / Registered Company - 7327258 Postal Address: ROC Angels, c/o The King's Centre, Park Rd, Halifax, HX1 2TS E-Mail: [email protected] (founder / CEO) / Phone: 07725501465 |