![]() Selina McKenzie from Talk Radio Europe interviewing Cameron Springthorpe today on the work of Street Angels. www.streetangels.es/20-3-14-tre-interview/ Press Release - Angels are watching over you as you head to the beach this summer! Street Angels have become the latest team of volunteers to join existing organisations in offering help and support to those visiting Magaluf, Ibiza and Tenerife, as well as across the UK, this summer. The teams of Angel volunteers don’t come with wings and halos but rather bottles of water, first aid kits and maps! Offering practical help and advice they try to ensure that people have a fun and safe holiday. As a result the teams of volunteers have contributed to reductions in violent crime within the night-time scene. The Street Angels will be patrolling the streets of Majorca’s Magaluf resort in a similar style to the 24-7 Prayer In Ibiza team who patrol the West End of Ibiza’s San Antonio and The Living Room who are based in Playa de Las Americas in Tenerife. Street Angels launched in Majorca for the 2013 season working mainly in the resort of Santa Ponca. This year they will be out and about in Magaluf and have the full support of the islands Police, Guardia Civil and the local pubs and clubs. Cameron Springthorpe, coordinator of Street Angels Spain, comments: “It has been great to see how well we have been received, and what a difference we can make. We start at 04:00 in the morning onwards as this is when we have found the greatest need. At the moment our team is made up of around 30 volunteers, but we are always looking for more! We always have Spanish speakers on each team, so we can quickly and easily liaise with the emergency services and get you whatever help you need Look out for our High Viz vests and come and say hello!” Charlie Clayton, who co-leads 24-7 Prayer in Ibiza, comments: “It is great to see initiatives beginning in other holiday resorts across Spain in what is a vital support in the intense night time scene. 24-7 Teams have been coming to Ibiza since 1999 and have become an established part of the working community here in San Antonio. Having Christians offering prayer and support in one of the party capitals of the world has had huge impact on the people who come here.” Rachel Scott, team leader of the The Living Room in Tenerife, comments: “Many young adults arrive here seeking adventure and a party lifestyle but sometimes find themselves in very messy situations and need a helping hand. The Living Room centre, situated in the middle of the infamous nightlife strip of Las Americas, has enabled us to reach out to the working community providing love, support, prayer, practical care and friendship. Many young adults from the community come to chill out and chat, some however come out of a real sense of need when the party lifestyle gets too much for them. We believe this is where Jesus would be and are excited to see other bases begin in other holiday resorts." Founder of Street Angels, Paul Blakey MBE, says: “Street Angels and similar initiatives are now a fully integrated part of the night-time scene across the UK. We recognised though that many people visiting resorts across Europe do so to enjoy the clubbing culture - our teams will be available for when things go wrong, or they just need a helping hand” The three projects can also offer advice and connect you with other services that can offer more relevant help and advice. The teams run in:
Only take essentials with you when you go to the beach or bars Use the safe in your hotel, for your passport / cards / mobile, etc. Write the name of your hotel on something you have with you, your hand if necessary! Don’t swim when you're drunk! Avoid badly lit / isolated places when possible Watch out for your friends / stay together or tell them where you’re going Keep an eye on your drinks - don’t leave them alone and don’t accept them from strangers Value yourself - you are amazing - don’t let anyone treat you otherwise! Some images available for use with the article: I.AM is a new short film to help people see a loving, forgiving God. Ideal for showing in cafes, work places, pubs, prisons, school halls, nightclubs and a Street Angels safe place drop-in the film is aimed at presenting the Christian message. See the film web site here. A tour to help people, churches and organisations engage with the film is taking place (see list below) and includes the CNI Network Conference in York (the I.Am workshop will run at 1pm and 2pm and this workshop is open to anyone to attend for free).
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YOUNG revellers in the Yorkshire city where student Megan Roberts died after falling into a river are leaving themselves vulnerable by “pre-loading” on alcohol before they go on nights out, a senior safety official has said. Many young people going out in York are already drunk by the time they reach the city centre and are more likely than before to be drinking high-strength alcohol at home, according to Jane Mowat, director of the Safer York Partnership. The organisation, which works to reduce crime and disorder in York, says it is renewing its focus on improving safety at night around the city’s rivers after the death of York St John University student Ms Roberts. The body of the 20-year-old from Wetherby was found in the River Ouse on March 2, several weeks after she is thought to have fallen in while under the influence of alcohol on a night out. Police have also been searching the city’s River Foss for 22-year-old Ben Clarkson, who has not been seen since going out on a night out with friends on March 1. Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, has today called an urgent ‘river safety summit’ after what she describes as “the devastating events in York over recent weeks, as well as incidents more historically”. And Ms Mowat said the Safer York Partnership would be asking the Street Angels, a team of volunteers who patrol the city centre on a Friday and Saturday night, to increase their presence near riverside premises. She said the city was unique in having a number of paths back to residential areas running alongside rivers and that the rivers themselves were easy to access. But she said a big problem being tackled by local authorities was the tendency for young revellers to “pre-load” with alcohol before going out. She said: “The average young person’s drinking profile tends to be that they are significantly in drink when they come into the city centre. We work very closely with both universities to promote safe drinking among students.” She added: “Pre-loading is a problem generally, it is not specific in relation to what is happening on the river. “When people are coming into the city centre they are already quite drunk and quite vulnerable. The door staff will alert us if they find someone who is vulnerable but if young people don’t encounter the Street Angels or our other partners it is difficult to pick up on the problem.” Ms Mowat said installing more CCTV cameras near the rivers would not stop people falling in unless a member of staff saw the fall happen at the time. She said authorities were working to raise awareness of the risks of going out and the need for groups of friends to look after each other. She said: “It is not the river that is the problem, it is what is happening that is leading to people being at risk.” Friends of Megan have recently started an online petition calling for new safety measures or CCTV cameras along the river, and say they hope to get 3,000 signatures. Police Commissioner Julia Mulligan says the river safety summit on March 25 will “bring together organisations with an active interest in this aspect of community safety, with the aim of fully exploiting opportunities for working together, that will help reduce risk and prevent future incidents”. Attendees will include a cabinet member and officer from York Council, as well as representatives from police and the city’s universities and student union. Source
STREET Angels, who help late-night revellers stay safe, are being stretched to the limit and need more volunteers to join them. Hull Street Angels Trinity has almost doubled in size to 20 volunteers since evolving from a pilot scheme in May 2012. But project co-ordinator Karen Thompson says she is seeking at least another ten volunteers to cope with rising demand for its services. Karen said: "We are a culture of drink and, unfortunately, other substances and there is a big demand for us. "At the moment, we concentrate our efforts in the Old Town but we would love to expand to other areas of the city that are popular with drinkers, such as Witham and Beverley Road. "In order to do that, we desperately need more volunteers." Karen said the aim of the Street Angels is to spot potential problems and nip them in the bud, preventing the need for the emergency services to become involved. "We spend 90 per cent of our time walking and talking," said Karen. "We hand out water to keep people hydrated between alcoholic drinks and flip flops, which prevent sprains and broken toes in the cobbled areas of Old Town." Karen said the registered charity has evolved quickly from a steering group comprising Hull City Council, Humberside Police and the NHS. She said: "The group was set up to look at how Hull could reduce antisocial behaviour and make the night-time economy more welcoming. "An enormous amount of time and money was being spent on dealing with people who had become intoxicated when often all they needed was to go home." Karen said the group looked at models adopted by other towns and cities. "We adopted a similar model to the Christian Street Angels, which operate in Hull," she said. Even though Hull Street Angels Trinity is based at Holy Trinity Church until new premises in the city centre can be found, Karen stressed its volunteers do not spread religious messages to revellers. "We have not gone down the secular, religious route," she said. "Hull Street Angels Trinity is a non-faith charity." Karen said Street Angels now have radios, paid for by the Community Safety Partnership, which connects them to the council's CCTV operators. Karen said: "If the camera operators spot someone vulnerable, perhaps a drunk, lone female, they'll contact us and we'll arrive to check they're okay and ensure they get home safely." Managers of several Old Town bars now call the Street Angels to request their presence when big nights are scheduled. Karen said: "A lot of our work is preventative. For instance, our volunteers, as well as being trained in first aid, are taught conflict management skills. "We have a really good relationship with Hull Cars. We will occasionally ring them and say, 'We're with a client who has drunk too much. They need a taxi to take them home'. "If they don't have the cash to pay the driver, we will phone mum or dad, with their consent, and ensure the driver gets paid. "Often, when young people are too drunk, taxis will, understandably, not pick them up. But if they get a call from us, they will. "People who walk home drunk put themselves in a very vulnerable position." Karen said volunteers must be able to commit to one night a month. Call 07580 032779 to volunteer. Hi there
Today is an International Day of Prayer for the Night-time Economy / CNI Network and so thought I would take this opportunity to offer our thanks, both personally and as CNI Network, to your volunteer teams, trustees, steering groups and supporters for all that you do. As Jean and I travel to meet with different projects we are always struck by the dedication and passion of people who give up time to invest in local communities and other people. It really is a privilege to have met so many wonderful and amazing people! As today we focus our prayers on the work we do across the Network and celebrate all that is achieved we pray for you and ask that God will bless you, your work and the communities you serve. This was posted this on Facebook the other day and thought it worth emailing out - "This is what CNI Network is all about - sharing our stories, celebrating the work we do, praying for and supporting those we help, talking through issues a local project is facing, acting as one voice for the media and others, encouraging and resourcing community transforming social action. It is not about one town or project but a collective, a movement, a family... This is CNI Network!" We look forward to seeing some of you at our Northern Conference in a months time (12th April in York - please do book as we need to sort catering out soon) and at our Afternoon Tea at Lambeth Palace on Monday 20th October 2014. We have also just booked the amazing Slaley Hall in Northumberland for our 2015 Conference from 23rd - 25th October 2015 - more details soon! Thanks again - "we are the ones who make city streets like new again!" Paul and Jean Andy, Kym-Marie, Sara, Steve and Trevor (Trustees) Source
Home Office Minister Norman Baker has congratulated YUSU for its involvement in setting up a Street Angels-style initiative. The Liberal Democrat MP said that he “very much” welcomed the proposal as he answered questions on anti-social behaviour in the House of Commons. The MP for Lewes added that doing away with the “old top-down approach” and giving ”the agencies the freedom and flexibility they need to make a difference locally” meant that the proposal could go ahead. The NightSafe scheme being set up by the university’s students’ union will involve undergraduates and postgraduates patrolling the York city streets in a bid to reduce the number of students in vulnerable situations, to reduce drug and alcohol-related hospital admissions and to reduce the pressure placed on the emergency services. YUSU President Kallum Taylor told Vision: “We’re really pleased to see that the NightSafe idea has reached parliament. Even though we still have to find the resource to pull off exactly what we want to pull off, if this can inspire others across the nation to do similar things then that can only be a good thing.” Mr Baker was asked to welcome the proposals by local Conservative MP Julian Sturdy, who said: “Will the Minister join me in welcoming proposals from students at York university to establish a Street Angels-style initiative? The aim is to combat antisocial behaviour and to prevent alcohol and drug-related tragedies for those who find themselves in particularly vulnerable situations.” The move comes following the disappearance of two young people in the city within the last three months. Source
Bradford’s Street Angels were honoured at a civic reception in the city last night. The Angels – who voluntarily help to keep people safe in Bradford city centre on Friday and Saturday nights – were all presented with a certificate thanking them for their hard work over the years. There was also a special accolade for Louise Foster, who has been an Angel since the group was founded seven years ago. She was presented with a District Chief Superintendent’s Commendation from West Yorkshire Police in recognition of the work she has done with the Street Angels. Louise, 52, of Wibsey, who is retiring from the Angels, said: “I really appreciate it, and I certainly enjoyed very much being a Street Angel.” She was one of 20 Angels among the guests at City Hall last night. Made up of retired people, students and workers, the Angels patrol Bradford city centre on Friday and Saturday nights. Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Joanne Dodds, who is a Street Angel herself, said: “As a fellow Street Angel, I thought it was a great opportunity for me to bring you here and thank you all for what you do in the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights. “I am proud to be an Angel.” She added: “Sometimes there is still the perception that Street Angels just look after those that are out drinking. But it is far wider than that. It’s that visible presence for people visiting the city for whatever reason, or passing through. It is about feeling safe.” The Street Angels in attendance were: Jamie Boyle, Dina Plowes, Steve Wood, Michaela Gautier, Graham Glover, Brian Horsfall, Thelma Horsfall, Louise Foster, Linda Gautier, Samer Daoud, Stephen Williams, Shirley Crowther, Paul Dyson, John Dinsdale, Adam Deacon, Mitch Long, Kate Williams, Matthew Wong, Hannah Spencer and Paul Sunderland. Some told of their varying experiences on Bradford’s streets – including helping people who have had too much to drink, assisting pensioners who are confused about where they are, helping young girls who have missed the last bus after being at the cinema, or standing with people at a bus stop as they head home late at night. Chief Inspector Damian Miller, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Thank you for the hard work you do. West Yorkshire Police view you as part of our extended family.” Source
Students could patrol York city centre in a Street Angels-style initiative aimed at preventing tragedies such as the death of Megan Roberts. The University of York students' union has put forward the plan as part of its work to promote safety around the city's streets and rivers at night. The body of the York student was found in the River Ouse on Sunday night. Police divers are also searching the River Foss, in York, for Ben Clarkson who was last seen on Sunday. 'Remain vigilant'Kallum Taylor, the university's student union president, told BBC Radio York: "We're looking at introducing our own version of the Street Angels scheme, but one that is run by students for students as a volunteering scheme." He said the aims of the scheme were to reduce the number of students in vulnerable situations, reduce drug and alcohol-related hospital admissions and to alleviate pressure on the emergency services. The cost of setting up the scheme has been estimated at about £2,240. Mr Clarkson, 22, from Leeds, was last seen outside Fibbers Nightclub on Stonebow in York city centre. North Yorkshire Police said river searches of the River Foss and Heworth Green area were continuing for a second day. They include the use of a search dog. Insp Richard Abbott said they had received reports of a number of unconfirmed sightings but urged the public to "remain vigilant". The body of 20-year-old Miss Roberts, from Wetherby in West Yorkshire, was found near the Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis. It is thought the she fell into into the river while under the influence of alcohol. Street Angels York is a Church-led initiative which employs volunteers to patrol the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights to provide care for people in vulnerable or difficult situations. Schemes also operate in a number of cities and towns across the UK. Source
BOLTON town centre's reputation of being a drinkers' playground could become a thing of the past under new plans. It is proposed to make the centre more attractive for families to visit. Measures will include:
Steve Hoyle, vice-chairman of the group, and owner of Down Town in Bradshawgate, said: “We on Bradshawgate, Churchgate and Deansgate want to be noticed again. We seem to have been left alone. “A lot of the bar owners have competed against each other in the past but the competition isn’t there now. We want to get it back and change Bolton for the better.” The partnership hopes in the future to be in the running for the prestigious Purple Flag status, which recognises excellence in the management of town and city centres at night. Its work will involve members committing to a number of improvements to help revamp the town during evenings, particularly at weekends. There will also be an agreed code of conduct. Members will update each other at regular meetings. This weekend will see minimum prices introduced where each drink must cost a minimum of 75p per unit— shots containing a small amount of alcohol are not included. Taxi marshals have been introduced to ensure people are brought in and taken away from the town safely on a Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays — the town’s busiest nights. Bolton Council will be piloting road closures during the evening in Nelson Square in the coming months. Music events, comedy nights, and activities around the World Cup are planned. Events will also take place to build on the success of Ironman and the Food and Drink Festival. Asif Vali, chairman the partnership and Bolton Taxi Company Association, said he is confident the town centre will see huge improvements. He added: “We want the town to be a vibrant place. We want people to come into town early and go home safely. There are great outlets outside of the town centre but Bolton is a hub, let’s make it a great place. There’s an amazing amount of stuff that happens in Bolton town centre. “We want to make Bolton a safer, more attractive place to come in the evenings for a wide variety of residents including young people, older people and families. We hope that by each partner in the group committing to take action to encourage safe and responsible drinking, as well as the introduction of new events and activities, that Bolton town centre will offer something for everyone in the evenings.” Some town centre bars will serve food during the day up until about 8pm. Adrienne Tonge, from Bolton Street Angels, said working together as a team will be a benefit as the group of volunteers can work with door staff to ensure women can get home safely. She said Bolton Street Angels would also benefit from advice from door staff on how to deal with conflict. Supt Mark Bell, for Bolton police, said: “My first experience of Bolton when I came to work here last year was how passionate people are about this place. “I am sure the work will change crime levels. I think introducing the dress code will get rid of the bad element, challenge 25 for people who look under 25 will mean people have to bring identification with them and an element won’t want to be identified.” Tony Lloyd, police and crime commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “I talk about partnership working a lot, but what I really like is to see it in action. This is exactly what’s taken place in Bolton with this groundbreaking new project. “We all have a part to play in ensuring the success of Bolton’s night-time economy, from public bodies like the police and council to the licensees and taxi firms whose livelihoods depend on the town being an attractive place to visit. “Too often when talking about the night-time economy it develops into an “us and them” situation, when the reality is that we all have a stake in ensuring our town and city centres are vibrant, exciting and welcoming. This is real innovation, and Bolton is leading the way.” Cllr Derek Burrows, cabinet member for community safety and police, added: “We hope that all these partners working together, with the support of the police and council, will offer something new that encourages all types of people to come into the town centre in the evenings.” The plans are the latest in a number of schemes announced which will breathe new life into the town centre. Yesterday The Bolton News revealed images of the planned transformation of the historic vaulted basement in the Market Place shopping centre. Owners of the complex Moorgarth have applied to transform the Victorian vaults on the bottom floor of the centre into restaurants, bars and shops. It ties in with plans to create a nine-screen £15 million cinema in the Market Place. What the action group plans for the town centre Many of the changes have already been introduced but will include:
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An Alcohol Treatment Centre (ATC) could be established in York City Centre at weekends to ease pressure off York Emergency Services. A draft report by the City of York Council has recommended the foundation of a centre where people who have drunk too much may be safe and receive clinical care as an alternative to going to hospital. The proposed centre would be staffed by police, emergency care practitioners and volunteers from Street Angels. Local organisations have welcomed the council’s proposal, including the Church-led volunteer group Street Angels. Street Angels station volunteers around York city centre at night to assist those who have had too much to drink, including giving flip-flops to young women walking bare-foot. The organisation have identified several hazards for students which could be rectified by the establishment of a dedicated inebriation treatment facility; including drink spiking, excessive pre-drinking and broken glass on streets in the city centre. A first year Social Policy student was cynical of the plans, saying “I’m not sure the creation of a medical centre is the right way to solve the problem of excessive drinking. If anything, creating a centre for severely inebriated people simply encourages heavy drinking because there is another place people can now go to when they’ve had one too many.” According to the report, Street Angels also observed the risk to inebriated or vulnerable female students in the city centre “on occasions such as University Freshers’ Week,” there was “increased in the number of 30-40 year old men in the city centre.” A second year Politics student supported the Council’s plans, saying “I think it will definitely make things safer for female students who have had one too many and are vulnerable. In freshers’ week making sure students get home safely is really important.” Calls for a dedicated facility for the city’s revellers come as a result of research conducted by Council officials. Committee members noted a peak in violent crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre in the evening and at night, particularly at weekends. Such incidents were over-burdening Emergency Department Services, especially between the peak hours of midnight-2am, the report found. In a sample of a year’s audit period conducted by Committee members, it was found that 6 per cent of the total number of admittances to York Emergency Department during the day, and almost 20 per cent of those at night, were due to alcohol related incidents. The findings of the report also indicated that the age distribution of those attending hospital whilst intoxicated spiked at the ages of 19-21, with the percentage of those under 30 being seen by emergency services amounting to 10.9 per cent of all attendances. York Ambulance Services staff have seen a 28 per cent increase in demand for call-outs at weekends, “where alcohol is believed to have been a factor.” The report further stated, “Members recognised that an ambulance crew caught up dealing with an antisocial or alcohol-related incident that could have been avoided could be delayed from reaching someone with a more serious life-threatening condition such as a heart attack.” A film about the alcohol culture of the UK - web site / Facebook Forget the bad weather. Forget the crooked teeth. Forget the quiet, reserved, tea-drinking aristocrat. We are fast painting a new image of Britain: an image of a nation with a drinking problem. British adults now drink on average 180 bottles of wine a year, or 1137 pints of beer. This means that we Brits now officially drink more alcohol than we drink tea. We drink when we go out, and we drink when we stay in. We even drink BEFORE we go out to drink. It’s almost as if alcohol has become an essential prelude to any form of social engagement: a beer before the date with the hot girl, a couple of vodkas before work, a bottle of whisky before that dreaded trip to the dentist. Whereas alcohol consumption across Europe has steadily decreased over the past 40 years, in Britain it has risen dramatically, with nearly a 50% rise in alcohol related hospital admissions in the past 10 years alone. Alcohol abuse causes 20,000 deaths and £22 billion of damage to our society each year, and we are showing no signs of slowing down. We start drinking younger and are drinking more and more. A Royal Hangover is a film about the ambivalent alcohol culture of Britain. Think Bowling For Columbine, only with alcohol instead of guns. Drinking for Britain: We don’t shoot ourselves to death here, we kill ourselves with drink - much more dignified! Why are things so different here? What sets us apart from our brothers and sisters in Europe, or our cousins across the pond? Are we aware of the extent of our problem? Do we even care? Critically acclaimed independent filmmaker, and accomplished non-drinker Arthur Cauty takes us on an alternately hilarious and shocking journey deep into the roots of our Great British drinking problem, in an attempt to decipher our thirst for the booze, and what can be done about it. Maybe one day Britain will wake up without a hangover. |
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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 |