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During the last year more than 200 flip-flops have been handed to women struggling with their high heels after a long night out. Volunteers have also handed out 2,500 lollies while patrolling Slough in their royal blue coats and baseball caps on Friday nights until the early hours of the next morning. The figures have been released by Slough Street Angel, who work out of Kingsway United Reformed Church in Church Street. They first started patrolling the High Street on December 16 last year. There are now 30 volunteers on the charity's books. They say the lollies they give out can help defuse situations as 'it is quite difficult to be aggressive when sucking a lolly.' Reverend Linda Hillier is one of the trustees along with Dave Nicks, Andy Packer and Maria Corcoran, while Suzanne Johnson is the treasurer. She said: "We make it clear we are a befriending service. We are not there to stop them having fun we want to keep them safe." Rev Hillier added: "We deal with the very drunk, the very sick, the very sad and sorrowful, the very lonely, those with mental health problems and those who have got themselves in a pickle." The Angels help out in various ways as they go out in a team of six including men and women. They might accompany someone who has been assaulted to the police station to report it, wait outside the ice arena to make sure all the youngsters get picked up safely, or make sure a woman who is vulnerable and on her own gets home by ordering her a taxi. Rev Hillier said: "We have never had a problem really. People respect what we are doing 99 per cent of the time. One or two are a bit silly but we have never had anyone violent towards us. "Most people are absolutely amazed that we have volunteered to be out there." It is a non-judgemental organisation made up of volunteers from churches. All the volunteers are CRB checked and are given training on conflict resolution and drug awareness as well as first aid and listening skills. Doorman on the pubs and clubs will let them know if there is a vulnerable girl who they can't let in who needs some assistance, while the police may ask them to help provide an adult presence in an area they know is going to be busy. Email [email protected] if you are interested in joining the street angels. Comments are closed.
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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 |