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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." 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 |