Angels head to Kendal Calling media release:

One of the the North West's largest music festivals is looking for Angels to offer support and assistance to some of the thirty thousand festival-goers.

Kendal Calling happens annually at Lowther Deer Park just outside Penrith and this year runs from 28th July until 1st August. For the third year teams of Christian based Festival Angels will be running Safe Hub caravans.

With acts including Stereophonics, Bastille and Eurovision runner up Sam Ryder, the Festival Angels will be on hand to offer a safe place where people can come to chat, grab a cuppa and seek help and advice. 

Paul Blakey MBE, the founder of Street Angels and CEO of ROC Angels says, "After two years when Kendal Calling was unable to happen, it is fantastic to be heading back to the fields to be Festival Angels at Kendal Calling. In 2019 our team of amazing volunteers assisted hundreds of young people in the Safe Hub caravans helping them to have a safe and enjoyable Kendal Calling experience. We are looking to build the team for 2022 to offer two 24 hour safe hubs over the festival week."

To find out more or to sign up to volunteer visit festivalangels.org.uk/kendalcalling . 
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“We are committed to ensuring our communities feel safe when they are out and about, including when they use public transport.

“Our Youth Service have partnered up with Oldham Street Angels to launch a new initiative called Trusted People to help residents feel safe and confident when using the local tram network.

“Our officers have engaged with more than 720 young people as part of this, with staff and volunteers riding on the Metrolink, visiting local tram stops and the areas around them, to provide a friendly face in case residents felt uneasy. Our Detached Youth Work team also run regular youth work sessions along local Metrolink stops and we have more investment coming into the Youth Service to deliver similar work across the borough.

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A community group which helps people enjoying a night out stay safe has received a welcome funding boost from Father Christmas himself.

Hartlepool Town Pastors, who organise weekend patrols of their volunteer Street Angels, were presented with £300 from Peter Richardson, Worshipful Master of the Harbour of Refuge Lodge 764 of Hartlepool Freemasons.

Peter, who has played Father Christmas for 20 years, donned his Santa suit again last year for groups that support people in Hartlepool.

He chose Hartlepool Town Pastors as one of three local good causes to benefit and comes as they start a recruitment drive to find more volunteers.

The pastors’ Street Angels patrol the town centre on a Saturday night to look after revellers, including seeing they can get home safely.

Peter said: “I’ve found even small amounts can make a big difference to charities like the street angels.

“People started offering us donations to help others. That’s part of the Santa tradition – and it just grew from there.

He added: “It’s been great to meet some of the street angels and I really hope their recruitment drive succeeds.”
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Peter also gave £300 to Citizens Advice in Hartlepool, and £200 to TLC Teddies.

The Street Angels hope to increase their activities after the pandemic resulted in the town centre being quieter for the last two years.

They patrol Church Street and the York Road-Victoria Road area of the town’s nightlife every Saturday from 11pm-4am.

Chairman Terry Hegarty said: “The money will go to help the publicity and contact work needed to find the right blend of women and men to join our team of volunteers.

"They learn to speak to people, out for a night enjoying themselves, who suddenly find they need some help.

“To have Peter Richardson and his colleagues step up to recognise that work and offer a substantial donation to help us is a great boost and perfect for the longer summer nights ahead.”

The Street Angels are assisted by door staff, the emergency services, Hartlepool Borough Council, Reach Out Ministries in Whitby Street, Poolie Time Exchange who provide a rest room, and Lilyanne’s café who provide refreshments into the early hours.

To book visit: eventbrite.co.uk/e/roc-conference-go-higher-registration-342641388617

Founder of Street Angels Paul Blakey is speaking at a day conference on Saturday 28th May looking at the role of faith in healing divided communities. For more information and to book visit bcsinterfaith.com  

​Latest Newsletter and some important information - https://mailchi.mp/b0f8c060bec5/rocangels

This month marks a new and exciting chapter in the ministry of CNI Network.

Around twelve months ago Paul, the CEO and founder, suggested to the three trustees of CNI Network that we merge with another charity that would give us the needed governance and support a growing and thriving international charity needs. After twelve months of conversation we are now in the process of closing down CNI Network and will be moving to sit under the charity Redeeming Our Communities (ROC).

ROC and Street Angels were set up around the same time and over the 17 years we have supported one another as we have both replicated, developed and pioneered new models of impacting local communities.
CNI Network will be wound down over the next three months and will become known as ROC Angels.

Paul will still continue in his role as CEO of ROC Angels (on 23 hours a week) and will still be involved in work such as Festival Angels, delivering talks, visiting, supporting and connecting with local projects, sharing social media updates, etc.

We hope and pray that our local projects and local branches will want to stay as part of the ROC Angels. We will continue to run on a donation basis as our heart, as always, is to equip the local church and community to best reach and impact its local area.

Together we have built an amazing Kingdom bringing network of local projects who have seen crime reduced, thousands of people helped and supported, partnerships formed and communities changed because we have committed to loving the person in front of us. We want to build on this foundation, under the banner of ROC, to keep on loving and serving for years to come.

Debra Green OBE, the founder and CEO of ROC, comments, "we are excited to be welcoming Paul and this excellent network into our ROC family".

Donations should now be directed to: Redeeming Our Communities,, Sort Code: 20 01 96, Account: 13242250 with the reference ROC ANGELS.

​If you have any questions please do get in touch.

​God bless,
Paul