There's a call to invite police officers to speak at church after a 10% rise in crimes involving a knife were reported.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show an increase year on year but the total number is still down on its 2011 high. Offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales have increased to 28,664 last year, officials said. Founder of the Street Angels, Paul Blakey, told Premier's News Hour inviting local police officers to speak at church is a good way of getting the message across. "I'm very concerned, knives are an easy weapon to get hold of and it's quite worrying that young people are attracted to carrying and using knives," he said. Some churches in London already offer knife amnesty bins where people can drop off their weapons without fear of arrest. Mr Blakey said this was a welcome imitative: "A church building is neutral ground and by encouraging and promoting the amnesty of knives it can have a massive impact amongst the community. "The Church has a role in terms of talking to young people about knife crime. Don't be frightened of having that conversation with your youth group. "Talking about it often highlights some of the dangers and some of the issues of people carrying knives who don't realise the great danger it can cause to another person. "The police are one agency and they're keen on working with the church and it's about having those discussions locally and saying to the police, look come and have that conversation with our congregation". Despite the increase in knife crime the figure is still 12% lower than in March 2011, when it was at an all-time high. Paul Blakey speaking to Premier's Alex Williams AGM of Sesel Paster Lannwit Sat 9th July 2016 at RC Mission Domus Meeting Hall Victoria. Thank you Mrs. Victoria Howard for setting up of Sesel Paster Lannwit and also to be here with us for the AGM. Special thanks goes to all members and all those supporting the work of Sesel Paster Lannwit. A big thank you also to the sponsors and all who made a special effort to attend the AGM. May the Lord continue to bless each and every one of you.
Paul Blakey sent the following greeting on behalf of CNI Network: Well done to all the amazing volunteers in the Seychelles. You are part of a family who serve 130 communities who together we are making a massive difference and showing that the Kingdom of God is a reality for our night time economy. As CNI we are praying for you and believe for greater things in the years to come. God bless in your continued ministry. Source
A pioneering project aimed at combating child sexual exploitation has led to almost 1,000 people undergoing a dedicated course. Taxi drivers, security staff, social landlords, hotel and fast food outlet staff have all taken part in training sessions. The move is part of a joint venture between South Tyneside Council and Northumbria Police to raise awareness of the signs to look out for which could signal they are in the presence of a victim and what they can do to help. It is just one of a number of initiatives taking place to help give people a better understanding of the issue and to make the borough safer for its residents and visitors. Since it’s launch, last year, there has been a 53 per cent increase in people reporting concerns. The course has also been expanded to include training in relation to vulnerability, particularly relevant to the night time economy. Coun Joan Atkinson, lead member for children, young people and families, added: “Independent reviews have highlighted that Child Sexual Exploitation needs to be everyone’s business. We all have a role to play in keeping children and young people safe and I’m delighted that the council is taking such a proactive approach to this issue. Since rolling out the training last year, Northumbria Police have seen a 53 per cent increase in people reporting concerns which shows that our approach to raising awareness is proving to be extremely effective.” Inspector Paul Young said: “Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for us, particularly children. This training is an excellent example of working together with the council and our community to help keep young people safe from predator offenders. “The training will help workers and residents in the town centre help spot the signs of child sexual exploitation. They really are the eyes and ears of the community and could significantly help us tackle the issue. “If you spot any unusual behaviour or suspect anything untoward, please do contact police. It may be nothing and there may be a simple explanation but it could also be the call that prevents someone becoming a victim of this sort of terrible crime.” The training session comes on the back of the Jay Report into the Rotherham scandal which said more than 1,400 children were abused in the town between 1997 and 2013. With many of the victims ferried to their abusers in cabs. This has led to a move by the council to ensure all taxi drivers have undertaken training over child sexual exploitation as a condition of receiving their licence. Over the past year a total of 638 taxi drivers, private hire operators and call handlers working in taxi offices; 204 staff from licensed premises across the borough; eight guest house and hotel staff; six Street Angels; 15 landlords from the social landlord sector people and 30 members of the council’s Safetrader scheme. Coun Moira Smith, lead member for area management and community safety, said: “Here in South Tyneside we are committed to raising awareness of the issues relating to Child Sexual Exploitation. We work closely with our partners, including Northumbria Police, and have already engaged a number of key local business sectors to make them aware of what child sexual exploitation is, what to look out for, and how to report any concerns. We will continue with our awareness raising to ensure our wider business community are well informed and can act as ‘eyes and ears’ across the borough. We are already seeing positive outcomes as a result of the awareness raising events.” Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird, said: “It’s incredibly important that everyone is aware of CSE and the signs to look out for - so victims are given the help and support they need and those responsible for it are brought to the police’s attention. Working closely with partners to tackle key issues, through training initiatives like this in South Shields, is something that as a force, we do very well at. I will ensure that Northumbria Police continues to work with a variety of people and organisations throughout our local communities to help identify victims of child sexual exploitation which will in turn lead us to offenders.” OPTIMising life chances for prisoners and their families
YesUR Programme The YesUR programme is an educational programme currently being compiled for use in UK prisons. Various subjects are covered in this two year programme; including the topics of Addiction, The Lie, Rejection, Shame, Grief, Boundaries, Jealousy, Vengeance, Power, Rape and Trauma. The NIV Bible (available to all prisoners) is the course textbook to learn reading, writing and numeracy skills. The need for an education programme in the UK prisons comes from the restriction of the Chaplain’s time with the prisoner to just two hours a week, whilst a prisoner may request fifteen hours of education each week. Our research has shown that prisoners, from an early age, have learnt to isolate themselves from family or have been isolated from society by circumstances or reasons outside their control. The aim of the programme is to build an inclusive team where the prisoners engage in the teaching of the YesUR Programme and then participate in its delivery. “YesUR” principle 1. I teach; They watch; we talk 2. I teach; They help; we talk 3. They teach; I help; we talk 4. They teach ; I watch; we talk 5. They teach someone else, as above, and so do I This builds respect, truth and a team (small society). The subject matter will aim to add Rhythm, Rhema and Revelation to the National Curriculum of Reading, wRiting and aRthimetic. Each UK prisoner has access to a copy of the NIV Bible. This an ideal textbook to use to explore the prisoners experiences, teach them to read English, spell and write words, learn how to count, add, multiply and divide numbers. All these skills are now required in order to be a member of society in the 21st century. We will have completed the YesUR programme in July 2016. We aim to run the first course in 2017. Can you support this work? We aim to raise £ 7500 to get this programme running in several prisons. Donate just five pounds (i. e. no more than 7.10 CHF). You can do this via the following link - https://www.gofundme.com/26ujv7ev. Each pound will mean another supporter, the more supporters we have the better our chances of receiving funds from grant making trusts and companies. Application to the various grant making bodies and trusts will benefit remarkably from having your support, both throughout the UK and from other countries. Also, please visit, like and share our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/OPTIMising-life-chances-for-prisoners-and-their-families-249908078705682/ After a week of tragic events - shootings in the nightclub in Orlando, policeman and wife shot in Paris, shooting of Jo Cox MP in Birstall and no doubt countless other unreported acts of terror and hate - it is good to see the pictures from last weekends Redeeming Our Communities conference.
People seeking to do good in society, bringing about positive change, loving others and seeing God's Kingdom of peace, hope, purpose, love, joy and transformation become a reality. This weekend our teams will join millions of others who commit to making our communities a better place to be. Food banks, debt counselling, hospice care, seeking fairness and justice, praying, patrolling the streets, reaching out to homeless, running youth work, teaching, visiting the elderly / sick / vulnerable - the list of good acts goes on! They will serve, change lives, bring hope, invest in communities with no headlines. Good, justice, positive change, love, hope, peace will win the day! The people intent on terror and hate are in the small minority - let us all commit to creating communities others want to be part of! Communities where all are valued, all are loved, all are respected, where all look after one another, where difference is celebrated not hated... I think that is the kind of community God calls us to be! Paul Blakey MBE Source
Success at the awards came to the Street Angels South Tyneside for the second time in four years. And that’s a pretty impressive return for a project which was only launched in 2012. Chair of the group Judith Oldroyd said it was “a wonderful feeling to be accepted twice as winners” Street Angels also won back in 2013 in recognition of its work to help keep people safe on a night out in South Shields. The nomination for the cause said: “Since the Street Angels project was launched in 2012, volunteers have been out on patrol on Saturday nights in the town centre on the lookout for revellers in need of support. “As well as giving first aid to those who have been hurt, they make sure those who are worse for wear are taken safely to a taxi, or rehydrated with a bottle of water. “The team also carry flip-flops to help out women in agony after a night of dancing in heeled shoes. “Street Angels patrol the town centre on Saturdays from 10.30pm until 3am. All angels are trained in basic first aid, conflict management and safeguarding. “They are also in constant contact with the CCTV team and are supported by police and door staff. “ Judith added: “We are appreciated by the young people and it is not just with high-fives and photographs. There is a real sense that we are all in this together.” She said the people of South Tyneside do like to feel that there is someone looking out for them.” The group would love to hear from more people willing to join up as volunteers. There’s a core of more than a dozen people on the books but Judith added: “We could always do with more.” She urged people to come forward and make a difference. Those who would like to join should contact Street Angels South Tyneside on 07973 470212.
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Whitby's Street Angels need more volunteers to join them on patrol once a month. They go around the town on Friday and Saturday nights helping people to get home safely. The Street Angels carry a kit with everything from flip flops and lollipops to blankets and a first aid box. The team is particularly looking for men to join them. Mick Robinson is a Street Angel, he told us why he joined. Mick said: "Most of my working life I've been involved in security. Joining Street Angels to help people is another level of security, for their safety. We have some girls or men who are strange to the town, they've gone down for a drink and then can't find their lodgings so it's handy for them just to ask us." They are holding a recruitment event at the George Hotel on Thursday 14th July at 7pm for anyone who is interested in volunteering. Below is a video following the Street Angels at work. Press Release: Leeds Festival Lost Property benefits asylum seekers and refugees
Money handed in at Leeds Festival and not claimed is set to benefit a second local charity working with asylum seekers and refugees. The Lost Property team, part of the Festival Angels, were left with cash which was not claimed by its owners. This money is part of a donation to Meeting Point, a project based at Christ Church working with asylum seekers and refugees in Upper Armley, Leeds. Nic Sheppard, one of the Lost Property managers, says, "Last year the Lost Property team managed to return over 500 items to their owners. Unclaimed items go to local charity shops or are recycled. For a few days each year the Leeds Festival campsite can look like a refugee centre and many festival goers struggle to cope without home comforts. It seemed entirely appropriate that this year any unclaimed cash would go towards helping those for which every day is a struggle.” Emma Crossley, Manager of Meeting Point, says, "We are very grateful to Festival Angels for their support and the donation. We work hard to support some of the most marginalised families and individuals living in our community, who struggle with day-to- day living. This money will ensure we can continue to provide much-needed support at our drop-in, to those who need our help." Festival Angels is set to run again at Leeds Festival over August Bank Holiday weekend with teams providing lost property, a prayer cafe and detached work offering support to all across the festival site. Picture: Nic Sheppard from Festival Angels with Emma Crossley, Meeting Point Paul Blakey, founder of Street Angels and CNI Network, was one of the speakers at Premier Radio's Society Sunday event held at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. The evening was broadcast on Premier Radio - listen here.
Other speakers and guests included: Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive Premier Radio; Stephen Timms MP; Lee Russell, Christian Police Association; Euripides Evriviades, High Commissioner of Cyprus; Florence Mawanda, Tearfund; Louise Sheppard, Bible Society; David Karat, Chair of the Religious Literacy Partnership; Rev. Dr Martyn Atkins and Revd. Tony Miles, Methodist Central Hall; Revd. Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and to Queen Elizabeth II; Revd. Michaela Youngson, Chair of the London Methodist Circuit; The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster and Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II. |
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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 |