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My Journey with Chester Street Angels I'm Samantha-Leigh, and my days are consumed by my property business, Homes by Hampson. The demands of my work often leave little time for myself, and I felt a deep yearning to do something more meaningful. That's when I discovered Chester Street Angels, a voluntary support group that provides assistance to the vulnerable on the streets of Chester. Joining Chester Street Angels wasn't just about giving back to the community; it was a lifeline for me to step outside my daily grind and connect with people on a profound level. Little did I know the incredible experiences and heartfelt moments that awaited me. On my very first shift, I met individuals whose resilience and stories humbled me. Each person on the street had a unique narrative, a testament to human endurance in the face of adversity. Some found an unexpected freedom in their street life, while others struggled against the cold and harsh conditions. I felt privileged to offer them small tokens of comfort—a hat, a bottle of water, a lollipop. Their smiles and gratitude for these simple acts of kindness were profoundly moving.  As we patrolled the city, picking up broken glass and discarded bottles, I realized how vital our work was. We weren't just cleaning up; we were preventing potential harm. A particularly touching moment was when we handed out flip-flops to women who had abandoned their high heels in favor of walking barefoot. Seeing their relief and knowing we had spared them from injury was incredibly rewarding. One evening, during the Chester races, I was scheduled for a 5-10 pm shift. We received a distress call about a person in crisis. We spent nearly two hours offering emotional support until medical help arrived. The feeling of knowing we had made a tangible difference in someone's life in their moment of need was indescribable. Feeling compelled to do more, I extended my shift to the second shift that finishes at 3am. Just ten minutes into the shift, we responded to another emergency—a person with a severe head injury. I provided emergency medical help and coordinated with emergency services. The gravity of the situation underscored the critical role we played in the community. Later that night, we found a person vulnerable freezing cold intoxicated and lost, with no phone and no idea where they were staying. Ensuring their safety became our priority getting them warmed up and sobered with water and safe to their hotel. Shortly after, we encountered a young woman who had been spiked. Disoriented and separated from her partner, she was incredibly vulnerable. This experience opened my eyes to the dangers that can arise from a seemingly normal night out.  Volunteering with Chester Street Angels has shown me the profound impact of our work. We collaborate with emergency services and door staff, all united in our mission to keep others safe. Although I'm not part of the church that supports this project, the warmth and welcome I've received have been overwhelming. Chester Street Angels is more than just a volunteer group; it’s a lifeline for so many. It’s a beacon of hope in the darkness, providing safety, support, and compassion. We desperately need awareness, support, and funding to continue our vital work. I invite you to join us, volunteer, donate hats, support us, and help us make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Your support can help keep Chester a safer place and ensure that no one feels alone in their time of need. Please consider supporting Chester Street Angels. Together, we can continue to provide a lifeline to the vulnerable, a warm hand to hold in times of crisis, and a beacon of hope in our community.  Source In an exciting new initiative to further enhance Altrincham’s nighttime offer, Altrincham BID, in collaboration with St George’s Church and ROC Angels, is proud to announce the launch of Street Angels in Altrincham. This community-driven project is seeking passionate volunteers to join its ranks. Mandy White, Altrincham BID Director explained, “Altrincham first achieved the Purple Flag award in 2023, which recognises areas that have a safe, vibrant and diverse nighttime economy. Street Angels was one of the recommendations to come out of the initial Purple Flag assessment and we have now successfully secured a Community Safety Grant through Trafford Council to help make it happen. The scheme will provide additional support at particularly busy times like payday weekends, and in the run up to Christmas”. What Are Street Angels? Street Angels are volunteers who will provide a reassuring presence in the town centre during busy weekend evenings. Their role is to offer practical assistance, emotional support, and a listening ear to anyone who may need help. Comprehensive Training and Support All Street Angel volunteers will receive thorough training to ensure they are equipped for the challenges of the role. Training will cover:
Volunteers will also carry a specially equipped rucksack containing practical items such as flip-flops, foil blankets, sanitary products, plasters, water, and even lollipops. Get Involved – Make a Difference! If you have the passion to make a positive impact in Altrincham, Altrincham BID would like to invite you to become part of the Street Angels team.
Official Launch The first patrol weekend is set to coincide with the "Taste of Altrincham" event on 28th February 2025, with regular patrols starting from Easter onwards.  Street Angels are set to soon be roaming the streets of Birkenhead on weekend nights, after a first shift on Mad Friday. Street Angels is a new project for Birkenhead set to establish during 2025, where trained volunteers will be roaming the streets during weekend nights to support people in vulnerable or difficult situations. Wirral based charity, Hitched Communities, has been funded to pilot the project, after being awarded a Step Up Fund grant, a government fund that supports Community, Voluntary and Faith Sector organisations to enable better health and wellbeing in the community. It is one of five Step Up funded gamechanger projects to help deliver Wirral’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy linked to reducing violence. Gary Wootten, Director of Hitched Communities, and shift leader, said “We’re excited to get this project live. It has the potential to help a lot of vulnerable people and help make Birkenhead feel and be a safer place to live, work and spend time at night. Everyone was very supportive on the streets during our first shift. We now need volunteers to join the team to help as many vulnerable people at night as possible”. Paul Blakey MBE, CEO of ROC Angels said “We’re so pleased to see a Street Angels project in Birkenhead. We see many people supported on the streets through Angels projects around the country and are looking forward to helping the project thrive”. Amy Butterworth, CEO of Make It Happen and volunteer, said “The shift was really insightful. I would do it again. When I heard about the project, our instinct was to offer A Place of Contribution as the project’s community base. So pleased the space can be used to help this project”. Greg Epton, Senior Pastor of Gateway Church Birkenhead and volunteer, said “I’m excited by this project and all it can become. I see it as a great opportunity for the community to come together and re-imagine Birkenhead for the better”. Hitched Communities has been funded to co-design, implement and evaluate a ROC Angels project in Birkenhead, collaborating with night-time economy partners and the faith community to establish a roaming welfare street team service to address the emotional and physical needs of vulnerable individuals, enhance local safety and signpost available services, whilst recruiting and training volunteers from diverse backgrounds. Street Angels Birkenhead will run on weekend nights as often as possible from the start of February 2025. To find out more about the project and enquire about volunteering visit www.streetangelsbirkenhead.org.uk Facebook: Street Angels Birkenhead Instagram: @streetangelsbirkenhead  Street Angels are encouraging people to #Do1NiceThing each day during Lent. #Do1NiceThing started in 2011 as a challenge to encourage people to give out over Lent instead of giving up. Paul Blakey MBE, founder of Street Angels, says, "Not everyone has the capacity to sign up as a Street Angel and work into the early hours of weekend nights in town and city centres. "However more people can commit to doing one act of niceness each day that would make life better for others or the wider community. "#Do1NiceThing is about loving the person in front of you, making positive steps to make life better for others and yourself in the process." The website do1nicething.org.uk contains a menu of ideas including engaging in conversation with those who serve you, shopping locally, creating a wildlife garden and becoming a nicer driver. Although people are encouraged to #Do1NiceThing year round, Lent is a good time to join with others and create a community around the concept. Lent, which runs from Wednesday 5th March 2025 until Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection and preparation for Easter and is linked to Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying. Lent is seen as a time to reflect on important values and relationships and to combine prayer and action that seeks to make a difference for other people, communities and the world. Ideas and more information can be found at www.do1nicething.org.uk  |
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