Manchester's nightlife is made safer as the first teams of Street Angels patrol the City Centre.11/12/2014
Manchester's nightlife is made safer as the first teams of Street Angels patrol the City Centre.
Teams of volunteers who were recruited to help patrol the streets of Manchester following the death of 17-year-old Adam Pickup in December 2013 are heading out for the first time on Friday 14th November. Adam went missing following a night out with friends in Manchester City Centre on December the 28th. His body was found on wasteland near to Deansgate Station two days later. Thousands of people joined the search for Adam using social media, and in the aftermath a campaign was set up by Manchester Radio Station KEY 103 to recruit teams of volunteers to help make Manchester safer. The Street Angels project was first founded by Paul Blakey MBE in Halifax in November 2005, in response to violence in the night time economy. They are teams of volunteers who patrol nightlife hotspots, assisting those in need, providing first aid, helping to diffuse conflict situations, as well as handing out flip flops and bottles of water. Paul said, “The problem with Manchester is that it is such a big city, we simply struggled with volunteer numbers. It is fantastic that the Manchester Street Angels will be taking flight after months of training, fundraising and preparing. The Manchester team are joining a nationwide family of over one hundred and twenty similar projects that are contributing to year on year reductions in alcohol related violence and A&E admissions. The volunteers in Manchester will help those who are or could become vulnerable whilst on a night out and this, along with awareness raising around safer nights out, will help make Manchester an even better place to be at night. Well done and thank you to all who have volunteered to be part of this project." Adam's father Chris and mother Chantal Pickup have been monitoring the Manchester Street Angels Project closely. Chris said, “It was really incredible to see how the local community came together to help when Adam was missing and subsequently after we found he had died. To know it didn't stop there, but has galvanised people into wanting to be involved in this project, is wonderful. Who knows how different things may have been had there been Angels on the streets on the 28th December”. A team of at least 20 volunteers have now received First Aid and Conflict Awareness Training and the first groups will begin patrols on Friday 14th November in the Deansgate and Deansgate Lock areas. Chair of Manchester Street Angels, and volunteer, Rachel Goddard said, “I was originally involved in a group who wanted to see something put in place to make Manchester safer, following a number of young deaths after nights out in the City Centre. When I heard that KEY 103 were launching a recruitment drive I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work together to achieve our goal. It's exciting that that day is finally here and we can now act as an extra set of eyes and ears in making the City Centre safer.” Manchester Street Angels is a registered Charity with the Christian Nightlife Initiative Network. If you want to become a volunteer or simply donate visit: www.manchesterstreetangels.com Angels from the realms of glory!
Angels will be making an appearance on streets and in night-clubs across the country this Christmas. Not the dressed in white, halo and wing type you see on Christmas cards and in Nativity plays but more like the 'here to help you' type! Street Angels first landed on the streets of Halifax in West Yorkshire in November 2005. With a vision to do something within the weekend of the night-time town centre, that had gained a Wild West of West Yorkshire reputation, a few local Christians set out to open a safe place cafe on Friday and Saturday's between 9pm and 3am. Amazingly 50 people also turned up to help and the group took flight out of the cafe into the town centre to help and connect with those out and about. The scheme worked - hundreds of people received help, violent crime was reduced by 42% in the first 12 months and the Street Angels became a massive part of the answer in changing the culture of Halifax town centre. Other towns started to look at Street Angels for themselves and so, in 2008, Christian Nightlife Initiatives (CNI) Network was launched to support and resource anything the church was doing to reach out to the night-time economy. We discovered a group in Belfast who had put a table out serving hot drinks since 1995 and a group in Dundee patrolling the centre since 2000. CNI Network linked projects now operate in 120 towns across the UK and in Spain. Each week we are out with flip-flops, lollipops and water offering safe people and safe places to the tens of thousands of people who enjoy a night out. We are there for anyone - those wanting a chat, the vulnerable (be it elderly people leaving a theatre to a young person waiting for the last bus home), the homeless, those who work in town centres at night as well as the clubbers. These angelic teams are making the difference and have changed a culture - recent reports show that over the last decade alcohol related violence and A&E admissions have reduced year on year. So as you sing "Angels from the realms of glory" this Christmas spare a thought and a prayer for those teams of Angels on the streets, in the night-clubs and in the parks who are modern-day shepherds watching over the flocks by night! For more information and to download our eBook visit www.cninetwork.org.uk CAP Release Groups
The UK increasingly has a culture of dependency. With an estimated 450,000 problem gamblers and the biggest drug problem in Europe, Britain has a serious problem. CAP Release Groups helps people to deal with and break free from life controlling habits like these and others such as smoking, drinking or Internet addictions. What CAP provides: A CAP Release Group enables your church to help people find freedom, even in those cases where it seems impossible after years of addiction. It provides a place of trust and security, where people are supported emotionally and practically.
What your church provides: In order to launch a CAP Release Group you will need the following:
How much does it cost? We ask each church to pay a minimum monthly contribution of just £40 per month, to be paid via monthly Direct Debit instalments. This contribution gives your church access to free training, and all the resources needed to advertise and equip your group, including course material, leaders guides and course members books as well as regular support from the team at head office. What next? Find out more here. Source
Guildford has recently been awarded with the nationally recognised Purple Flag accreditation by The Association of Town Centre Management for its excellent town centre management and night-time economy. Assessors look for high safety standards, good transport links and a wide range of evening activities to offer a welcoming environment for a great night out. Assessors recognised the town centre as a safe, vibrant area which offers a great night out for all and is thanks to a close partnership between the Council, Experience Guildford, Surrey Police, Guildford Pubwatch and local voluntary groups such as Guildford Street Angels. The town was assessed on five categories; wellbeing, movement, policy, appeal and place. Assessors wanted to know how safety issues are addressed, how crowds are managed, how public transport works and how local data is collected and used. On top of this they assess the layout and design of the city centre and the general appeal of the town, such as the choice of bars, restaurants, shops and activities on offer. Lead Councillor for Economic Development, Cllr Gordon Jackson has said, “This is excellent news for our town centre and for everyone who’s worked so hard to achieve the coveted Purple Flag. With over 100 places to eat, drink and socialise, Guildford town centre welcomes thousands of visitors every weekend to enjoy what the town has to offer. The mix of bars, restaurants, theatres and live music venues means there is something for everyone to enjoy on a night out in Guildford. We work closely with our partners, Surrey Police, Experience Guildford and Pubwatch to offer a safe environment for everyone to enjoy their night and get home safely.” Stuart Craggs, Night-time Economy Manager at Experience Guildford, the town’s Business Improvement District says, “This is such a tremendous achievement for the town and one that key partners and individual businesses should be proud of. This award demonstrates how we can all work together to benefit the town as a whole and recognises the importance that Guildford’s night time economy has on the vibrancy of the borough. We’ve worked hard to do things right, make a difference and ensure that Guildford continues to be known not just as a great venue for a fun night out, but a safe one as well.” The award adds to previous town centre initiatives that have focused on improving Guildford’s night time economy. Behave Or Be Banned was introduced by Experience Guildford, in partnership with Guildford Pubwatch and Surrey Police in 2013 and has resulted in a 25% reduction in reported alcohol related anti-social behaviour. The first Best Bar None awards were presented in February 2014 by Experience Guildford, recognising and rewarding venues that demonstrate best practice. Plus Experience Guildford’s funded taxi marshals have done much to reduce disturbances at taxi ranks during weekends. We have been offered the opportunity to win upto £5000, through Ocean Finances new Win the Tin promotions. You can also win £250 for every entry.
First round is to get as many people as possible to nominate CNI Network, the top 20 will then be drawn to another vote across the UK. Please click on the following link and enter ‘Street Angels CNI Network’ in the charities name field http://www.oceanfinance.co.uk/win-the-tin/ £5000 is enough to cover our core costs for 3 months - that's 3 months of supporting new towns to start a project, 3 months of promoting our amazing impact, 3 months of developing new ideas such as Club Angels and Festival Network - please stand with us and nominate! Paul contributed to a DrinkAware study into drunken nights-out - this is now published and available on-line... From a general flick through it looks essential reading for those involved in night-time work and Street Angels - CNI Network is proud to have contributed!
Click here for a PDF of the report Source
A dedicated group of volunteers aims to be a guiding light in helping people stay safe on the streets of Redcar. The Redcar Beacons, set up by locals Anne and Bryan Connelly, are based on Street Angels programmes running up and down the country, including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Guisborough and Hartlepool. Run under the umbrella of the Christian Nightlife Initiative - which supports more than 100 similar schemes across the country - the Beacons aims to provide a non-judgemental “caring presence” to everyone who ventures out to Redcar on a Friday night between 10pm-3am - from boozy revellers to the vulnerable and homeless. Volunteers are trained in first aid, to help with minor injuries, and where appropriate will give out water and flip flops to help with dehydration and sore feet. The 19-strong team of volunteers, wearing hi-visibility projects provided by Redcar and Cleveland Council, range in age from 19-year-old Amie Mulgrew-Taylor to Brian Connolly and Olwyn Twentyman, who are both in their 70s. But Anne, a retired social worker, said more men are urgently needed. And if they can boost their numbers, it’s hoped the service can expand to Saturday nights too. She said: “About half of us or Christians, but the one thing we all have in common is we care about our community. “Our main aim is to help people enjoying a night out and making sure they stay safe. This could be by alerting the emergency services or by taking them back to our base at the Lifeline office and helping them seek further help from appropriate organisations.” The name Redcar Beacons came from Redcar’s own vertical pier, which Anne visited just after it opened. She said: “I know a lot of people have differing opinions about the Beacon but what I saw was the beauty of the area and it really lifted my spirits. We should be proud of what we can offer residents and visitors. “Lending the name to our group ties in well with the town and it is key to remember that the aim of a beacon is to supply an area with guiding lights.” Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger, said: “In my experience of Street Angels projects, they are very well received and I’m sure this scheme will be a great addition to the community safety offer in Redcar.” For details, email [email protected] or call 0771 9447112. Source
The Archbishop of York made a pilgrimage to the pub this week when he surprised drinkers as he led a procession into an Oldham Wetherspoons. Dr John Sentamu, the 97th holder of the Archbishopric which dates back to the seventh century, was visiting the Greater Manchester town to meet the Street Angels. The Oldham Street Angels are volunteers dedicated to keeping night-time revellers on the streets safe by handing out free bottles of water, clearing the streets of broken glass, and ensuring inebriated residents get home safely. A host of angels can often be found outside The Up Steps Inn in Oldham High Street, and after swapping his purple vestments for an orange hi-vis vest and helping the group pick up litter, the Archbishop joined them for a quick pint. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Manchester said: "The Archbishop wanted to come and see some projects we have in Manchester. “We wanted to get out of the city centre so, we went to Oldham.” “We wanted him to meet the Street Angels who are doing good work, helping people on the streets at night who are out having a good time, and might find themselves in trouble. “They might have lost their friends, or run out of money, or just want someone to talk to." “One of the places they meet is a Wetherspoons pub so they took him in there for a quick drink. “He really enjoyed meeting the locals and had a joke with the staff.” Local drinkers were surprised to see the Church of England’s second most powerful cleric arrive. Ian Dean, a student who was in the pub at the time, recognised Dr Sentamu whose face rang a (church) bell. “I was really surprised to see him there,” said Mr Dean. “I was just enjoying a beer and a burger when I looked up to see the Archbishop of York next to me. “I just stopped myself saying ‘Jesus Christ!’ I recognised him from TV but he’s not the sort of person you expect to see in a ’Spoons.” Dr Sentamu talked with a flock of local people, shared a joke with staff, and obliged those seeking ecclesiastical selfies. Pub staff shepherded him behind the bar where he pulled a pint of Bishop’s Finger ale - an appropriately holy spirit. Mr Dean said the Archbishop seemed happy to give the pub his blessing and meet local people in good faith: “I think he was enjoying himself. He was chatting to anyone who wanted to meet him. “He was very down to earth, and had a pint and a plate of chips.” Dr Sentamu was happy to sing Oldham’s praises, saying: “I am delighted to be spending a day in Oldham. “I first came to know Jesus Christ when I was 10 years old – it will be wonderful to find out how people in Oldham are walking and living out their lives in Christ. “As they say at Boundary Park, come on Oldham!” Halloween seems to be becoming one of our busiest nights in the year (or the nearest weekend to Halloween) - here are some pictures from 2014:
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Halo nightclub is hosting event ‘Transcend’ to promote awareness of anti-trafficking charity ‘No More Traffik’. ‘Transcend’ was created by Rachel Young, to raise awareness of the freedoms taken away from those who are trafficked; but also to inspire young people to go out without being dependent on alcohol or drugs to have a good night. The vision for ‘Transcend’ came to Rachel when she attended a similar event. She said: “We were all in a nightclub, dancing and having fun, but it was a pure experience. “We were not excessively drinking until we had the bad side effects, and the feeling of sickness, guilt and shame that can come the next morning. “There was a feeling of true fulfillment and happiness about the night, instead of a temporary fulfilment fuelled by drinking.” ‘Transcend’ has been described as an event to make memories, instead of forgetting them, as it represents freedom, fun and a releasing of people into the fullness of life. International DJs, local artists and designers will be providing entertainment and music for the event at Halo on 6 November. The theme is ‘Light Night’. HALO will home incredible variations of light art throughout the night. Upstairs, a smoothie bar will be part of the Free VIP Access, as well as a photo booth, free UV body paint artists and more, whilst incredible DJs perform all night for everyone who attends. ‘Transcend’ has been described as a revolutionary clubbing experience, attracting visitors from Southampton, Winchester, London, Poole, Bournemouth, Salisbury and Andover. Clem Haines who attended a previous night held by TRANSCEND said “it’s a refreshing change to the usual nightclub experience.” Another attendee said it made her feel “part of something truly amazing” and that “It was such a great atmosphere”. The event will run from 10pm to 3am, Thursday 6th November, at Halo Bournemouth. Source
A TEAM of “street angels” are asking for help as they go into the busy winter period keeping people safe around Hartlepool’s drinking hotspots. Hartlepool Town Pastors are a familiar sight around town on weekends as they cover areas around Victoria Road and Church Street to help keep revellers safe. The pastors work between 11pm-3pm, going round in teams of threeto offer help and guidance to people who may have had too much to drink. Drew Mills, who leads the project, is keen to get more volunteers to help in the build up to the busy festive period. He said: “It is a very rewarding job, we meet some interesting people and no two nights are ever the same. “We do a veriety of tasks, it’s hard to give a job description. We hand out flip flops to ladies when their heels have gone at the end of a long night, we give out 1,200 lollipops a month to people, we help people into taxis and hand out water to anyone who may have had too much to drink. “We work closely with the police and the door staff, people recognise us and stop to talk to us. “We’re a bit like an emergency service, but if we can provide a friendly face or be a calming influence to help reduce trouble then we’re happy.” Drew, 68, would love to hear from anyone who can volunteer their services on Friday or Saturday nights. Candidates must be 18 or over, have no current convictions and willing to have DRB check carried out. Call Drew on 07776378934 for more information about how you could help. |
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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 |