Source (with pictures and video)
Crime reporter Robert Sutcliffe was out on patrol with the police on New Year’s Eve and saw the New Year heralded in by violence and people so drunk they didn’t know where they were. It was eerily quiet in Huddersfield town centre on New Year’s Eve - but on the stroke of midnight it all kicked off. And by the end of a hectic night police had made several arrests across the town. Det Insp Ian Thornes from Kirklees CID said this morning: “The cells are very busy with a lot of prisoners in from overnight. These have mainly been offences of being drunk and disorderly, people fighting among themselves and domestic incidents.” One of the first problems just moments into 2016 happened in the Lord Wilson bar in Huddersfield town centre. A police officer said: “A scuffle broke out on the dance floor and when a male door staff member intervened the group of young men and women threw their drinks on the floor causing him to slip and fall over. He was then assaulted and suffered facial injuries. “A female door staff member was punched in the lower back too. Another doorman came to his aid and they were ejected.” Once outside a melee quickly erupted with police officers running down King Street to arrest two men, one of whom put up a struggle with officers having to wrestle him to the floor. The officer said: “Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault and affray on the two door staff. “There is good CCTV footage inside the pub and the door staff were wearing headcams which have even better quality footage complete with audio recording.” There were plenty of police officers patrolling the town centre during the festivities which were largely good-natured with young people high-fiving officers and begging them to have their photographs taken together. But at 1.15am trouble erupted again, this time outside the Verve Bar in Byram Street with a young man refusing to calm down and having to be wrestled to the floor. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly. There was a sadder side to the revelling too with several young women reeling around the town’s streets crying and disorientated. One, in a burgundy-coloured dress, cried continuously outside the entrance to the Kingsgate Centre for no obvious reason for more than an hour and refused to cheer up even when fireworks were let off at midnight. Sgt Mandy Mellor tried in vain to make her smile by giving her a hug but to no avail. Another semi-comatose young woman who had been in the Camel Club caused concern after the Street Angels were only able to elicit her first name after more than 45 minutes of trying to help her. Eventually police attended and an ambulance was called to take her to hospital to have her stomach pumped. And at 2.32am police were able to try out their new roadside, drug-testing equipment following an intelligence tip on a young male driver of a black Renault Clio in St George’s Square. Sgt Mandy Mellor said the incident had been resolved with a so-called Community Resolution for possession of a small amount of cannabis. She said there had been no evidence of “impaired” ability to drive but he had been asked to park up his car and get a taxi home. Chief Supt Steve Cotter who spent the night patrolling the district, much of it in Huddersfield town centre, with Insp Jon Dunkerley said: “I am happy with the operation. “We have increased the number of officers available to us, part of a long term plan to ensure the police response across Kirklees is able to cope with what is always a very busy night for West Yorkshire Police.” As we come to the end of 2015 may we say a massive THANK YOU to each and every person who is part of the CNI Network family - volunteers, steering group members, prayer supporters, financial supporters. CNI Network has over 130 local projects within its family - local projects who are changing local communities and contributing to a cultural change in the UK.
This year has seen: many great achievements (far too many to list!); increased publicity for our work; growing recognition of both CNI and local projects; a national conference; increased networking between local projects and a commitment to move forward in this incredible journey God is leading us on! So Happy New Year - we pray that 2016 will be the best year yet!!! (and to all our volunteers out tonight and those they will meet in town and city centres - #StaySafe!) Source
A VOLUNTARY group which provides assistance in getting people home safely has been nominated for a prestigious award. Windsor Street Angels has been put forward for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service - less than four years since first being seen on the streets on Windsor. The group, which started out with nine volunteers, now has 29 manning the streets between 9.30pm and 3.30am every Friday night and Saturday morning in the town centre and at the trains stations. The Street Angels also volunteer on some Saturday nights and provide assistance during Royal Ascot. PCSO David Bullock, who sits on the project's steering committee, said: “Street Angels is a very important community initiative that makes a huge difference to the town centre. We have outstanding volunteers who show huge commitment and a magnificent work ethic every week, going above and beyond to offer support to those in need.” As well as offering a visible presence, the angels also give out lollies, water and flip flops. They offer soup and rolls to the homeless and will clear dangerous litter from the streets. PCSO Bullock added: "It is a real honour to receive the nomination. It is a testament to the exceptional work of the volunteers and shows just how much Street Angels means to the community who nominated us." Based at the Windsor Baptist Church in Victoria Street, the Street Angels has won the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Community Safety award on two occasions, as well as the Volunteer of the Year award. The Queens Award for Voluntary Service is the highest honour to be given to voluntary groups in the UK, and the winners will be announced in June. Anyone interested in volunteering to be a Street Angel must be over 18, have a DBS check and be willing to undertake the training programme provided which consists of conflict management, observational skills, first aid, autism awareness, radio use and homelessness awareness. For more information contact PCSO Bullock via [email protected] or 07816848231. Source
'TIS the season to be jolly and many will be very jolly in the pubs and clubs of Cleethorpes during the festive holidays. And looking out for vulnerable people will be the Street Angels. They patrol Cleethorpes providing practical assistance, caring for, listening and talking to vulnerable people. Jackie Fortune of Street Angels in North East Lincolnshire, said: "Our advice to folk out celebrating this Christmas is:
Responding to those in need, Street Angel's aim is to reduce emergency services calls by:
Street Angels provide a friendly face in the centre of Cleethorpes, helping to make everyone's evening as much fun and as safe as it can be. The Street Angels project is co-ordinated by Churches Together in North East Lincolnshire. Volunteers don't have to belong to a church, but they do want to be part of a team working to improve the safety of people who are using our bars, restaurants and clubs. The project is supported by Safer and Stronger Communities, Humberside Police, VANEL Volunteer Centre and other local agencies. To become an 'Angel' you need to be 18 years old or over, provide references, undertake a CRB check and be committed to attending our training programme. You must be available for at least one Saturday night per month from 9pm to 2.30am. We will provide agreed procedures and training for your safety, and a Street Angels uniform for you to wear when on duty. For further details or an application form contact Jackie Fortune on email [email protected] or pop into the Volunteer Centre at 14 Town Hall Street. Source
Real-life Christmas angels are making sure revellers get home safely during this festive season. A team of volunteers who spread goodwill throughout the year – not just at Christmas –take to the streets at the weekends to help keep party goers out of harm’s way. Among the Bedford Street Angels is 74-year-old Daphne Cherry who has been pounding the town centre’s streets into the early hours of the morning since the Christian group was founded almost seven years ago. She said: “When I first went out I couldn’t believe the clothes that people didn’t wear! “It is quite fun. Everybody gets on well. “I think on the whole Bedford is pretty good. A Saturday night is quite a nice time for youngsters to come out and it’s pretty safe because we patrol the streets and the CCTV cameras are watching all the time.” The dedicated volunteers work alongside police, ambulance and door staff and keep in touch with CCTV operators via radios. Trained in first aid, their duties include serving up hot drinks to the homeless, staying with those who have had a few too many and helping those who have been separated from their friends and may be lost. They also dish out flip flops to those flagging in high heels. “One new year’s eve we found a guy who had collapsed and was suffering from hypothermia,” said Daphne, whose husband Ken also volunteers. “If he had been left who knows what the result would have been.” Daphne was recently awarded the Pride in Bedfordshire Senior Citizens Award for her volunteering, which she has dedicated to the work Bedford Street Angels. “I was a bit embarrassed really,” she said. “It was good to have it for the street angels because it is good for parents to realise who is looking after their kids.” Bedford Street Angels was founded by Fred and Fran Gill after their 17 year old son Robert was murdered during a night out in Bedford on Boxing Day in 2007. Volunteers are out and about every Saturday night from around 10.30pm until the early hours of the following morning and will be helping revellers on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. Source
Aylesbury's American vicar says, after over a year in the town, he's impressed with the Christmas community Christmas spirit here. Doug Zimmerman oversees St Mary's in the town centre, after moving from Tampa in Florida last year. He says now is the time to be united as one community: "Aylesbury certainly has a more community feel about it. "It's gathering around Market Square and all of the smaller areas where people congregate just to be together and recognise that we are part of one community and that we can come together, even through our diversity, and celebrate." There are of course Christmas events happening at St Mary's over the next few days. You can see them here. But the churches across the town join together to do things like Street Angels, Town Centre Chaplaincy and Winter Warmth for the homeless. Doug told us people need to let go of all the 'stuff' that surrounds this time of year and think about others: "This is a time of year when there is great need for people in the community who don't have shelter, don't have food, don't have community and they find themselves isolated. "There are many opportunities within the church and the town to meet the needs of those who are cold and hungry." Source
A breakfast bar's being set up in Manchester to offer homeless people a festive meal as it's revealed one in four will be spending Christmas alone. It's being organised by the Manchester Street Angels who'll be handing out food and drink from their base in Great Northern on Deansgate. Chief Constable Ian Hopkins will also be there to lend a hand. It comes as the charity 'Crisis' says thousands of people will spend the festive period on the streets - with more than a quarter of those enduring Christmas alone. A survey's found almost three-quarters of those questioned felt ashamed of being homeless, while 44 percent said they felt undeserving of help. Source
Teams of volunteers will help keep Christmas revellers safe in Leeds this festive season. The Leeds Street Angels will be on patrol this weekend offering help, support and medical advice. Founder Paul Blakey, said: “Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for our volunteer teams and we often meet people not used to town and city centres at night. “Our teams, who work brilliantly throughout the year, will be out and about in force to ensure that people have a safe and fun night.” Leeds Street Angels is part of the Christian Nightlife Initiatives Network and will be on patrol in Leeds city centre on Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19. They will also be on patrol every Friday night from January 8. Teams will be offering first aid and bottles of water to anyone in need. The Street Angels are urging people to stay safe by drinking plenty of water, staying with friends and making sure they don’t leave their drinks unattended. Another organisation helping to keep people safe on Leeds’s street is Business Against Crime in Leeds (BACIL). For the fourth year, BACIL day and night marshals will be on patrol over Christmas in high footfall areas of the city centre. Sean Walker, BACIL manager, said: “Over the next few weeks many people will visit the city centre and there are bound to be a few who get slightly carried away with the festive cheer! “We want to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable time and finds their way home again safely.” BACIL marshals will wear high visibility jackets and will be working alongside shop and bar security teams and West Yorkshire Police. For more information about the Leeds Street Angels, you can visit www.cninetwork.org.uk. For more about BACIL, visit www.bacil.org Source
Street Angels will be out on a number of dates over the festive season and would like to share a few tips for revellers.Street Angels is a church-led initiative set up to help make Whitby town centre a safer and better place. The team of volunteers can usually be found out on the streets of Whitby on Friday nights and occasional Saturdays, practically helping and listening to people, especially those in difficult situations. We’ll be out and about in Whitby on Friday 18 December, Saturday 19 December, Saturday 26 December, Thursday 31 December, Friday January 1 and Saturday January 2. Here are a few stay safe tips for staying safe if you’re going out for the night: • Plenty sense. Plenty water. Plenty friends. Never leave your drinks around. • Always stay with your friends, don’t go off alone, have their contact information on you somewhere other than your phone and, over a big dinner beforehand, try to think about your drinking limits for the night and stick to them! • Always eat before a night out – never drink on an empty stomach. • Know your drink and know your limit. • Know what you are drinking so you can know how much you have had. This will also help you and your friends know if you have been spiked because you have kept account of your alcohol intake. • Pick a venue right for you – if you feel out of place, leave! • Most fights start over something minor. If someone knocks you or spills your drink, apologise! • Don’t get involved in breaking up a fight – that’s the job of the door-staff! • Someone pestering you? Try to ignore them and if that doesn’t work ask the bar or door staff to help you. • Look out for your friends – make sure they are safe. • Keep your taxi money in another part of your handbag/wallet so you don’t spend it. • Always sit in the back of a taxi if you’re travelling by yourself. • If in doubt find the Street Angel volunteers who will offer help and support or a police officer or ask the door-staff. We wish you all a safe Christmas and New Year night out. Most of our amazing teams of volunteers will be continuing work within communities over the coming week - loving the person in front of them, prayer and action to create safe and vibrant night-time economies.
CNI Network seeks to honour and thank every single person who volunteers within our family of projects. Paul and Jean (founders) have visited over 80 projects in 13 months to do this. On our travels we meet people who are passionate about creating better communities. People who know the value in other people especially those who are or could become vulnerable. People who don't complain and moan about the problems in society but stay out until the early hours of the morning to do something about them! CNI Network is an amazing family - a grassroots movement of local projects changing localities but also an international movement changing a culture! To every single person within our family - THANK YOU and merry Christmas! Your people will rebuild the cities that were destroyed long ago. And you will build again on the old foundations. You will be called the one who repairs broken walls. You will be called the one who makes city streets like new again. Isaiah 58:12 - The Bible Our Christmas Card - click here! More than 50 people volunteered in Manchester including Manchester Street Angels, Manchester City Centre Street Pastors, Village Angels and Police Specials.
Street Angels Leeds had a busy night and over 2015 have picked up 1800+ glass bottles (aka weapons), donated 770+ volunteer hours to Leeds and significantly helped 200+ people Wycombe Street Angels welcomed a new volunteer - Viv - who received her wings on one of the busiest nights of the year! They also met Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood in the early hours! Dundee Street, Club and Festival Chaplains joined several other agencies to run the SOS safe place bus Street Angels Huddersfield had two teams out - the streets provided plenty of entertainment to the street angels and police alike, many people assisted in various ways and the evening was generally jovial, and a friendly atmosphere. The night really flew by and all of us felt as if we had well and truly earned our keep as the Huddersfield Street Angels. Oldham Street Angels were joined by a GP and 3 Greater Manchester Police specials who came bearing gifts - not gold, frankincense and myrrh but blankets! Paul and Stuart (from Leed Street Angels) joined Wakefield Street Angels in a very busy Wakefield city centre. |
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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 |