Northallerton Street Angels were commissioned at a special service at New Life Baptist Church, Northallerton. The service was attended by many of the 40 new volunteers as well as Northallerton Police, British Transport Police, Northallerton's MP, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, local councillors, representatives from the local authority, Stockton Town Pastors, Redcar Beacons and CNI Network.
The morning included talks from Paul Blakey MBE, Sergeant Simon Wilson of Northallerton Police, two of the new volunteers and project coordinator and New Life pastor Steve Cowie. BBC York Feature Star Radio Feature (audio above) Source
A MAJOR new initiative aimed at bringing peace to a town’s night-time economy is about to get underway. The Northallerton Street Angels project will be launched at a special commissioning service in the town’s New Life Baptist Church on Sunday. And the first three-strong patrol will take to the streets in late May, patrolling between the hours of 10pm and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. The aim of the Street Angels is to provide assistance, care and reassurance over the period when the pubs and clubs are closing and some people may be the worse for wear. In high-visibility jackets and equipped with radios, the trained volunteers will patrol a set route and hopefully will act as a deterrent to would-be offenders. And as well as first-aid kits, their more unusual equipment will include flip-flops, for those female revellers who can no longer walk on their high heels, and even lollipops – which are known to help calm people down. The project has the full backing and assistance of the police, who approached New Life mission pastor Steve Cowie and asked him to set it up after the Home Office pulled the plug on funding the town’s old night marshal scheme. The Street Angels is a countrywide church-led – although not church-exclusive - programme that now operates in some 130 towns and cities. It was first launched in Halifax in 2005 – and led to a 57 per cent reduction in night-time violence. The Northallerton scheme has been awarded almost £11,000 from police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan’s community fund. That has paid for equipment, training and insurance and contributed towards three years running costs. Some 40 volunteers are so far taking part although more are being sought, both to take part in patrols and work in support. Mr Cowie said: “The Street Angels are not a substitute for the police but will be a reassuring presence and help deter crime.” Sunday’s commissioning service, to which all are welcome, begins at 10.30am and will include a presentation from the man who originally launched the Street Angels programme, Paul Blakey. Also present will be senior police, fire and ambulance officials, local councillors and Richmondshire’s Tory MP Rishi Sunak. For more details about the scheme visit nlbc.org.uk/street-angels Source
A group of street angels had a huge impact on keeping revellers safe on nights out. Volunteer Hartlepool Town Pastors (HTP) has reflected on a challenging year in its annual report from 2015 – but is full of faith for the future. The pastors walk a circuit of 1.75miles, covering mainly Church Street and Victoria Road in Hartlepool town centre. On a quiet night each HTP team may cover the area up to four times between 11pm and 3am. In 2015, HTP gave more than 1,600 hours of voluntary service, providing 104 nights of cover and offering help and first aid in 394 separate incidents. A spokesman said: “We have dealt with a wide range of incidents throughout 2015. “Our most challenging was back in February where we provided on-scene assistance following a traffic collision in Church Street. “This led to us assisting police, ambulance staff, casualties and friends and relations of casualties at our Whitby Street base. “We have provided help and first aid in 394 recorded instances. These included people injured by glass, falls and other injuries, talking to recovering addicts about their battles against addiction, being called by bar staff to provide assistance to people suffering from the effects of alcohol, injury or illness and walking people to places of safety. “We’ve given out an amazing 14,500 lollipops, 410 pairs of flip-flops and 141 bottles of water. We’ve also cleared up 2,940 broken glasses and bottles. “We have a really good relationship with the police, door staff and many of the bar owners." ![]() So very sad that another person within the CNI Network family has died in very tragic circumstances. Lynne was at our conference in October and we celebrated her birthday on the Sunday morning. She was full of life, passionate about the work of Redcar Beacons and dedicated to serving her community. Please do pray for the Redcar Beacons team at this difficult time, for Lynne's family and friends, for the small community of Redcar and for the Police and Ambulance staff who attended the two murder scenes. Post from Redcar Beacons: As most, if not all of you reading this page will now know, one of the two women murdered this week in Redcar was Lynne Freeman, a Redcar Beacon. Her caring attitude both on the streets of Redcar as a Beacon and also working in a charity shop will be greatly missed as will the smile with which she greeted everyone. One of our Beacons has already commented that she was full of life as well, doing an impromptu karaoke outside the Deck last Saturday night, inspiring other Beacons to join in the fun. She was a joyful and loving Christian, one whom it has been a privilege to know. Press Article - Redcar murders: 'Caring' Lynne Freeman gave up her weekends to help others Lynne's children Sarah Helm, 28, James Helm, 27,Kimberley Helm, 25, and Lauren Freeman, 18 said in a statement issued by Cleveland Police on Friday night: "We shouldn't have to be writing a tribute to our mother who was taken from us so early; she should still be here to watch her four kids and grandkids grow. “She was thriving in life and loved the volunteer work that she did in her church, and as a street angel for Redcar Beacons, always putting others before herself. She adored every one of her children and loved being a Grandma. “She wore her heart on her sleeve, always made an effort for people and she really would go the extra mile. She gave so much and never asked for anything in return and we'll always be proud of her. “You are loved beyond words and an amazing soul never dies, you'll never understand how much you will be missed. Our mother was always the angel looking after others but now the angels are looking after her. We love you so much mam." Listen to Sue Snowdon has recently marked her third anniversary as the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham. When she took up the role in March 2013 she was the first woman to serve as a Lord-Lieutenant. Sue loves meeting people in her corner of the North East of England, with its rich Christian Heritage and one of the finest Romanesque cathedrals in Europe. She shared with Premier’s Northern Correspondent Ian Britton some stories from the past 3 years including going out on the streets of Stockton with the Town Pastors.
Money handed in at Leeds Festival and not claimed is set to benefit a 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 St Augustine's Centre in Halifax. Nic Sheppard, one of the Lost Property managers, says, "This 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 camp site 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. Vicky Ledwidge, Centre Leader of St. Augustine's Centre, says "We are very grateful to Festival Angels for their support and the donation. We work hard to support marginalised communities, including asylum seekers, refugees and EU migrants who struggle with day-to-day living. This money will ensure we can continue to provide much-needed social and advice sessions 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 across the festival site. For more details or to sign up visit www.leedsfestivalangels.org.uk Picture Paul Blakey from Festival Angels with Vicky Ledwidge, St Augustine's Centre Source
On Wednesday March 2 Douglas Borough Council celebrated two milestones: Councillor Raina Chatel became the first woman on whom the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Douglas was conferred and the 120th anniversary of the first meeting of the council was recognised. The honour, in recognition of Councillor Chatel’s long-standing service to the council, the people of Douglas - notably the residents of Victoria ward - her tireless charitable work and her support of young people’s education was bestowed at a special meeting of the council after members unanimously agreed the motion, proposed by Councillor David Christian and seconded by Councillor Carol Malarkey. Addressing a packed Council chamber Councillor Christian spoke of Councillor Chatel’s exemplary service to the council which began in 1985 when she was first elected to join her late husband George, on whom the Freedom of the Borough was bestowed in 2007, as a councillor for Victoria Ward. With the exception of 1995-1996 when she stood for East Douglas in the House of Keys election Councillor Chatel has served as a council member continuously to the present day, prompting Councillor Christian to comment: ‘She has seen the council progress and been a very positive contributor to a number of initiatives. Take the new Henry Bloom Noble Library, for example: she is a very firm supporter, having been a member of the library sub-committee for many years and deserves a substantial part of the credit for what is acknowledged to be an excellent new facility.’ Councillor Christian said the day’s proceedings had represented ‘another page written in the council’s history.’ Councillor Chatel had ‘welcomed and embraced change’ and he praised her unstinting commitment to three charities close to her heart, Street Angels, Manx Decaf and the Royal British Legion. In closing he said: ‘I can think of no one who deserves the Honorary Freedom of the Borough more.’ Seconding the motion Councillor Malarkey traced Councillor Chatel’s love of reading and support of the library to when she was a small child: ‘When she was only three she’d be reading by torchlight under the duvet…’ Councillor Malarkey went on to refer to Councillor Chatel’s typing skills which led to securing her first job, in the council’s transport department; her strong following in local elections; and her 27-year-long role in the Department of Education. In closing she observed: ‘Raina’s a reserved, highly respected lady who’s passionate about her community work, her role as a councillor and, above all, about her family’ then, addressing Councillor Chatel said: ‘Congratulations on your well-deserved honour. I and the entire Council salute you.’ In her reply Councillor Chatel thanked her family, fellow council members, council officers and staff and the Victoria ward electorate for their enduring support and spoke of her pride, as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough, in joining ‘an exclusive club’ that numbered among its members her late husband and Sir Winston Churchill. For Councillor Chatel, the honour bestowed upon her had been ‘the icing on the cake’. The illuminated address was presented to Councillor Chatel by the Mayor of Douglas Councillor Sara Hackman. Created by local artist Colleen Corlett it features references to her immediate family, her time in office as mayor and mayoress of Douglas, her long association with St Ninian’s High School, her charitable work and her guest house ‘The Blossoms’ on Central Promenade. ‘The Blossoms’ also featured in a surprise presentation by the Mayor on behalf of the council to Councillor Chatel, an enlarged photograph of Douglas promenade taken from the air in 1935. The photo was one of a collection of vintage images displayed at the town hall during the council’s participation in Manx National Heritage’s open day programme in October 2015. Photo - Councillor Raina Chatel is presented with the illuminated address marking her becoming an honorary freeman of the borough by the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Sara Hackman. Picture Andrew Barton. Source
THE Mayor of Henley wants to start a volunteer group to help prevent antisocial behaviour in the town. It follows a successful campaign by street pastors during last year’s Henley Royal Regatta to help people who had too much to drink. They spent each night from Wednesday to Saturday in the town centre handing out bottls of water and lollipops to help restore drinkers’ blood sugar levels. Many of the pastors travelled from Reading, Abingdon and Wallingford and gathered at the d:two centre, home of community group Nomad, from 9.30pm to 3.30am. Councillor Lorraine Hillier told a meeting of the town council’s town and community committee that the group had done a “fantastic job”. She said: “If someone had too much to drink they would take them to Nomad and give them some toast and make sure they were better before sending them on their way.” The Mayor suggested creating “Henley Street Angels” and applying for a grant from South Oxfordshire District Council. She said: “There is a specific grant to target antisocial behaviour and we could get a grant for a proper uniform, so they could be properly identified.” Councillor David Eggleton said: “If you defuse situations you can have the police doing what they ought to be doing.” The committee agreed to investigate the idea. Source
DRINKERS are increasingly abandoning drunk and vulnerable friends on nights out in Hull's Old Town, says a voluntary group. Since 2012, Hull Street Angels Trinity have patrolled the Trinity Quarter, from 9.30pm to 2am each weekend, helping ensure revellers get home safely. Luke Cardwell, the group's volunteer co-ordinator, says he is increasingly concerned about the number of people his patrols are finding alone and drunk. The group is now preparing to launch its Drink and Friend awareness campaign, with the slogan "Drink but stay together". Mr Cardwell said: "I've seen up to ten people a night on their own. People are coming out of pubs and clubs and leaving their friends. "People may be too drunk to get into premises, so their friends are just leaving them outside. "People need to look out for each other, because when you are drunk you are that much more vulnerable." Mr Cardwell said his 15-strong team of volunteers, who carry first-aid kits and radios linked to the city council's CCTV operators, will often be called on to help people worse for wear get home. He said: "There is a danger that if these people are left, they will fall asleep, which carries the risk of hypothermia, or attempt to walk home and end up getting hit by a car. "We will help people sober up and accompany them to taxi ranks. We will also, if necessary, call their friends, or relatives, to get them to pick that person up." Mr Cardwell said both male and female groups are guilty of abandoning their friends. He said: "It's a good mix of men and women, and all ages." On Saturday, Hull Street Angels Trinity was awarded almost £5,000 from the NHS group Hull Clinical Commissioning Group's Healthier Hull fund to help the campaign. A lady who works in a busy pub wrote this after dealing with a particularly bad incident. This shows why our volunteers are needed - for every person like Jason whose night out goes wrong, for every person who could become vulnerable, for anyone and everyone...
He was just a skinny kid, just a skinny kid who wanted to go home. A night out with friends, and then in moments violence erupted. Outside the school, on a cold road, blood on my hands, that skinny kid became "my kid". I held his head, this boy, the same age as my own son, a kick to the head, unconscious, dark, blood. Blue lights flashing, police, ambulance, noise, so much noise. Just a skinny kid who wanted to go home. Blue lighted to the hospital. His attackers, cowards to the last, scattered, running. Just a skinny kid, on his way to hospital. Just a skinny kid who wanted to go home. His dad came to see me. Not as bar staff, not just doing a job, as a parent. To say his boy had to be taken back to hospital after being released. Not just a skinny kid who wanted to go home. His name was Jason. 😢 Woking Street Angels celebrated 5 years of working in Woking with a celebration service. The event included special honour for those volunteers who have Angel-ed for the 5 years of the project (and walked around 500 Angel miles!) as well as thanks from local church leaders, deputy leader of the Council Douglas Spink, the Mayor and Mayoress of Woking and Bishop of Guildford Andrew Watson. The team also celebrated a 64% drop in violent crime over the last 5 years on the streets of Woking. "Astonishing grass roots movement from the churches of Woking" - Bishop Andrew (Bishop of Guildford) "Yes the Street Angels have been effective - but You can't be effective if you're lying in your own beds" - Douglas Spink, deputy leader of woking council Source
Street Angels Maidenhead first began patrolling the town centre on weekends on Friday, February 11, 2011. The Christian volunteers hand out water, insulated foil blankets and flipflops to help party-goers get home when they have overindulged on a night out. They are in the town centre every Saturday night, and the final Friday of the month when many are out spending their pay in Maidenhead’s bars. Viv Lee, who attends St Mary’s Church in St Mary’s Close, is the group’s chairman of trustees. She said Street Angels was set up after the police contacted the Rev Mark Balfour, of St Peter’s Church, to tell him about a similar scheme which was making a ‘tremendous difference’ in Watford. Word was sent round Maidenhead’s churches to round up volunteers. Six months later, and Maidenhead Street Angels was out on the town. Dealing with drunks may sound intimidating, but Viv says the work is ‘great fun’. She said: “Some nights we see nothing, other nights people wait for us, they know who we are, they know we’re sensible, they say ‘can I have a chat?’. “They’ve gone through a life crisis and need someone to talk to.” Viv, a retired pharmacy professional, said the team, which is normally a mixed-sex group made up of three out of around 16 volunteers, starts the night outside The Bear in the High Street at 10.45pm. They then do a circuit of the town via Queen Street and King Street. Peak time, she said, is when most are moving from the pubs to the late bars and Smokey Joe’s nightclub. They make sure vulnerable people get home, provide insulated ‘space jackets’ for those who have not got coats, hand out water, and have a supply of flipflops for those struggling to walk in their dancing shoes. The first-aid trained volunteers also practise what Viv calls ‘ministry by lollipop’ to calm down rowdy or aggressive groups. She said: “You go up with the lollipop, say ‘would you like a lollipop?’ “By the time they’ve got the lollipop in their mouth they’ve forgotten they’ve been silly and the whole thing diffuses.” |
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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 |