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They've been sworn at, vomited on, hugged and thanked, but one thing is for sure, Tamworth's Street Angels are here to stay. The volunteers, accustomed to returning home with their coats blood-spattered and with sick on their boots, have made a huge difference to a lot of people. After two years in the town, they are now being trained in using defibrillators, so they can be an even greater help to both the public and the emergency services. The group are headed by Leyfield's vicar Vic Van Den Bergh. He said: "We've given out bottles of water, flip flops when it was warm and thermal blankets, socks, gloves and woolly hats when the cold weather took its toll. "We've provided triage; checking to see how serious the injuries are and responding with first aid until the ambulance arrives – this has not only brought care and comfort speedily and effectively into the situation, but has meant that the police have been freed up to do the work of policing the streets rather than stay with an injured person. It's been a real 'win win' situation. "We have dealt with people who have stopped breathing (and not lost one yet!) and have gone home on many an evening with blood-spattered orange jackets and vomit-stained boots: and never complained at the experiences. "We have been hugged, kissed and abused and have met so many really lovely people that whilst many of those we meet wonder why we do it all without asking those at the point of contact for any money, we find ourselves thinking that we couldn't pay for such a positive and amazing privilege of service the people who visit our town on the weekends." And despite what many might think, the Street Angels don't just tend to people who are drunk – one of those they helped was an elderly man who was confused and distressed; after calming him down and talking to him, Street Angels managed to contact his family, as it turned out he had Alzheimer's Disease. The group have also ensured that local youngsters were returned home safely on occasions it appeared trouble was brewing. Street Angels have been such a success that they are looking for new members -– and are happy to provide guest speakers at local groups. Anyone interested in can contact them via their website www.tamworthstreetangels.co.uk or give Vic a call at St Francis' Church in the Leyfields. Vic added: "We are a Christian organisation but we realise that being 'Christian' does not mean that we have a monopoly on doing good in the community. We welcome people of faith, and no faith, without discrimination. All we ask is that you are as open-minded as we seek to be." Following a couple of talks Paul did at St James Thornton (outskirts of Bradford) the organiser of the talks has decorated a Christmas Tree as part of a Christmas Tree Festival - more details on the festival is at www.james4u.org/christmas-tree-festival.html (worth a visit if you are in the area!)
Leeds Street Angels is featured in a new video from the Church of England #JustPray. The video shows The Lord Prayer with different groups saying a line each. CNI Network offered support and advice towards the project and the video has caused controversy and received much publicity as cinemas refused to show the advert. You can visit the website at www.justpray.uk Source
Six new volunteers have joined the church organisation which provides vital support to the police with helping late night revellers get home safely. Anita Green from the Slough Street Angels said: “What we do is really important and we get a great response from people we help and the police are always grateful. “Some of the new volunteers have already been out and just think it’s brilliant.” The Street Angels are still looking for more recruits to join them. Email Anita on [email protected] for more details. Source
Night-saving volunteers who patrol the streets helping Maidenhead’s party-goers were among the organisations raising awareness of their work at Windsor and Maidenhead (WAM) Get Involved’s volunteering fair. Vivien Lee was among seven volunteers representing Street Angels Maidenhead. The team help revellers who are in need of assistance, water, or safety every Saturday night and the last Friday of every month in Maidenhead town centre. She said she did not expect to sign up new recruits on the day, but the event was a chance to let people know about the Street Angels’ work. She said: “We’re trying to raise our profile. We’ve got quite a lot of leaflets and lollipops. It’s raising awareness and getting people to think a little bit “We normally recruit through the churches in the town. We are not fussy about which church.” At the fair, which was held on Saturday in the Nicholsons Centre, around 20 groups were promoting the work they do Colin Gault was representing WAM, he said Lions Club of Maidenhead, Maidenhead Heritage Centre, the Alzheimer's Society and various charities and educational groups were among the organisations represented. He said: “It’s going really well. “We’ve had enquiries about volunteering and other aspects of their work as well.” Don't know what town but amazing thanking of Street Angels volunteers... The Queens Award for Voluntary Service awarded to Guildford Street Angels recently - here are a few of the team... #VolunteersAreAmazing
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There's praise for Manchester's Street Angels as they celebrate a year of making the city centre safer. The project launched last year following a number of young deaths in Manchester, including the tragic case of 17-year-old Adam Pickup. Groups of volunteers are on patrol every Friday night in the Deansgate/Deansgate Locks area to help assist people who may have become vulnerable through alcohol. They have been trained in First Aid and Conflict Awareness and work alongside the Police and Pub and Club Network. LISTEN: Inspector Phil Spurgeon has been telling us about the impact the Street Angels have made over the last year in Manchester: KEY 103 launched a recruitment drive to try and gather as many volunteers as possible for the scheme. It's after a group formed on Facebook to try and do something to stop the number of tragedies in Manchester City Centre. LISTEN: Original member and Chair of the Manchester Street Angels Rachel Goddard talks us through the journey so far: It's hoped the Street Angels will now spread their wings and cover more areas of the City Centre as well as add Saturday patrols to their duties. LISTEN: Vice Chair and volunteer Nikki Breen shares her experiences and hopes for the future: If you're interested in joining the Street Angels project visit: www.manchesterstreetangels.com Source
Guildford’s Street Angels have been nominated by the County Club as its chosen charity for 2016. The club, situated at the top of the High Street, nominates a different charity each year as part of its commitment to support the local community. The Street Angels team has become a regular part of Guildford’s weekend night scene providing a much needed and appreciated service to help vulnerable people late at night throughout the town. Whether intoxicated or unable to find their way home, Street Angels offers its services to help all those in need. And there intervention is believed to help in more ways than one. A 29% reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour has been recorded whilst Street Angels were operating. Kevin Lorimer, general manager of the County Club, said: “Guildford Street Angels provide a valuable service to the town looking after the vulnerable. Guildford was awarded Purple Flag Status last year and Guildford Street Angels contribution was an important part of us winning this award. “In June this year, our charming club member Stavros Kapsalis passed away at 40 years of age. It had been his intention to join the Guildford Street Angels, hence our keenness to support Rob, his team and his work.” Street Angels volunteer Rod Boreham said: ‘’It’s a real privilege to have been nominated and chosen as the County Club charity of the year. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we have been given, it makes us feel very special and it’s not taken for granted.’’ The County Club states on its website that it, “is active in community life and reaches out to local organisations to help improve the lives of people… in Surrey.” During 2015 the club held multiple events to raise money for its nominated charity the Army Benevolent Fund – the soldiers charity suitably tying in with Guildford playing host to Armed Forces Day National Event in June 2015. In 2014 more than £20,000 was raised for Headway Surrey, a charity that supports people with brain injuries across the county. The County Club has a tradition of participating in civic support. Recently discovered club minutes reveal that in times of hardship it played its part. During the Second World War the club paid for an air raid warden-night spotter to keep a look out for enemy planes en route to strategic bombing locations. Source
As the hectic festive season approaches, a group which helps look after late-night revellers in the Royal Borough is appealing for more volunteers. The Windsor Street Angels has been operating in Windsor and Ascot since February 2012, when it was set up by the Windsor Christian Action charity. Each Friday evening, volunteers meet at the Windsor Baptist Church, in Victoria Street, at around 9.30pm before taking to the streets of the town centre to offer a helping hand to those in need. An average evening shift will finish at about 3.30am. Whether it’s giving out soup to the homeless or flip-flops to shoeless partygoers, the volunteers look out for everyone. The group works closely with police, the ambulance service and licensed premises in the borough. It now wants to expand its operation to two nights a week but that can only happen if more volunteers come forward. Corinne Leatherbarrow, recruitment and fundraising co-ordinator for the group, said: “Although Saturday night is a bit of a couples night you still get a massive influx of people coming in to Windsor. “You don’t have to have any qualifications to get involved, you just need to be really caring and care for the individual.” Windsor resident Liz Ward was named as the group’s Street Angel of the month for October. She only joined the group in July but now spends two Friday evenings a month alongside her fellow volunteers helping out. Liz paid tribute to her fellow volunteers for their hard work. She said: “We’ve got some really committed members and they’re out regularly during the month. “No two days are ever the same and it’s opened my eyes to what goes on in Windsor’s night time economy.” Email [email protected] or visit www.streetangelswindsor.org to volunteer. Source
Waitrose in Guildford has announced the first three charities to receive financial support from its ‘Community Matters’ scheme. The store, which opened at York Road last week , will donate £1,000 to Guildford charities and other good causes every month. The first to benefit from the initiative will be Guildford Street Angels, the Chobham based Children with Specials Needs Foundation and the education charity SATRO. At the end of their shop, customers can vote for one of the charities by placing a token in the box. The more tokens a cause gets, the bigger the donation they receive from the £1,000 fund. Ken Storr, branch manager at the new Waitrose , said: “Community Matters is just one of the ways in which we will be supporting the local area with £12,000 available every year for local causes all nominated by our customers. “This month’s donation will help to provide valuable support, equipment and resources to three very worthwhile charities.” Customers can nominate charities and causes for the scheme by completing an application form in-store. Source THE founder of Bolton community group Yes Matters will be showcasing a video about sexual consent at a personal safety event at the University of Bolton. Gemma Aitchison, who went to Little Lever High School, has been campaigning for better sexual education for young people since the murder of her sister Sasha Marsden in 2013. She will show the video, entitled Tea and Consent, which was created by Thames Valley Police, and compares sex to drinking a cup of tea to explain what constitutes as sexual consent. The personal safety event, which takes place tomorrow, will feature exhibitors including Self Defence Society, Bolton Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service (BIDAS), Sanctuary, Samaritans, Student Safe Zones, Bullying and Harassment, Hate Crime, the fire service, National Grid, GMP, NHS. Bolton Street Angels and Endsleigh. Miss Aitchinson, who is studying youth and community work, said: "The police have started using the video as a part of their campaign so the uni has said I can show it at the safety event. “We will be talking about sexual harassment, sexual assault and consent – such as what is appropriate behaviour towards people and where victims can go to get support in uni. “We will also discuss victim blaming and the ‘boys will be boys’ and ‘lad’ culture, and how people should be preventing their children from getting into these situations.” Sasha died on January 31, 2013, when she was lured to a Blackpool hotel by its owner David Minto. When the youngster rebuffed the advances of the sexual predator, she was ferociously attacked with a kitchen knife as she tried to escape. |
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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 |