New Street Angels to launch in Northallerton

Street Angels will soon be patrolling the streets of Northallerton but organisers are looking for more volunteers this Christmas to join the exciting, new project.

Thanks to funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, New Life Baptist Church is working with local police, Churches Together Northallerton Area and the Safer Hambleton Community Safety Team to introduce the new Street Angels scheme from Easter next year. Street Angels will work in groups and patrol areas of the town to offer reassurance and help anyone who might need some support on a Friday or Saturday night. 

Training for these special, voluntary roles will begin in the New Year and applications can be made now to join the scheme. Angels do not need to be members of any church but want to work together to help those who need help and support on a night out. To be considered for one these roles you will be required to offer one Friday or Saturday night a month to patrol between 9pm and 2am.

Steve Cowie, Mission Pastor from New Life Baptist Church said; "Street Angels have been successfully introduced in other towns and cities across the country and following a request from the police, we have been working together for a number of months to see if there would be an appetite in Northallerton. The feedback we have had shows that there is a real community spirit in the town and a desire to help those who might need it, when they need it.”

"We want to offer the opportunity to volunteer to everyone in the town. So, this Christmas, think if you could give one evening a month to help those who might need it and volunteer to become an Angel for the town."

Sgt Simon Wilson of the Northallerton Policing Team commented; "Northallerton is a safe town, but sometimes we have individuals who need comfort, help and support during their night out. Street Angels are there to offer reassurance; they are not there to enforce or intervene in situations but they will work closely with the police and others to make sure we can keep people safe on Fridays and Saturdays. I am particularly grateful to New Life Baptist Church for the work they have done already to bring this scheme to the town and am excited about the opportunities it offers."