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Putney Street Angels: Celebrating a Year of Community Impact

4/29/2025

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Putney Street Angels proudly celebrates a year of service to the local community. Launched at the end of April 2024 by Positively Putney BID, the initiative has grown into a reassuring and compassionate presence on the streets every Friday night making a quiet but powerful difference to those out enjoying Putney’s nightlife.

Operating between 10pm and 3am, the Street Angels are a team of dedicated volunteers who offer support to anyone in need from lone individuals to those who are vulnerable through intoxication, rough sleeping or personal crisis. Armed with lollipops, bottles of water, space blankets and most importantly a calming, non-judgmental presence, the Angels have become a familiar sight for many late night revellers and businesses.

“I primarily joined as I felt a need to give back to the community — and also in the knowledge that I would be extremely grateful if someone was around to assist my children if they ever needed it,” shares John Don-Wauchope, one of the founding volunteers. “It truly inspires you to carry on, even if you don’t feel like you are offering significant help. Even small things, like picking up bottles or handing out water, really matter.”

Our First Year in Numbers:

• Over 500 bottles cleared from the streets to prevent injuries and antisocial behaviour
• Over 50 instances of support offered to individuals experiencing homelessness
• Over 20 lone or vulnerable women supported safely home or assisted when needed
• Numerous vulnerable individuals assisted through signposting, taxi support or safeguarding referrals.

While Putney is generally safer than many urban centres the Angels have provided a calming and preventative presence quietly stepping in to diffuse situations before they escalate. They’ve worked closely with local doorstaff, police and businesses building trust and becoming part of the town’s safety net.

Supported by Positively Putney BID, which provides the equipment, facilities and training necessary to operate safely, the volunteers embody the BID’s mission to make Putney a welcoming and caring town centre.

The Angels have also forged meaningful relationships with late-night venues and food vendors. Special thanks go to McDonald’s on Putney High Street who generously fuel the Angels each night with a midnight meal — a gesture much appreciated by the team.

Another volunteer, Ben Harrison, reflects on his experience:

“The group of volunteers are great fun to work with and the five-hour shifts fly by. It’s an amazing way to live out the Gospel message in a real, tangible way. I’ve seen firsthand how Street Angels free up police time, offer real help to vulnerable people, and make Putney’s streets that little bit safer.”

Ben adds: “If you’re thinking about volunteering but worried about safety — don’t be. We always patrol in groups, we’re trained to observe rather than intervene directly, and Putney is generally a very calm environment compared to other towns.”

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Putney Street Angels hopes to expand patrols to both Friday and Saturday nights but to do so we need more volunteers. Many of our current volunteers are Christian but that is not a pre-requisite, volunteers need to be 18 years or over, able to work in a team of three to five people, available to go out at night on a regular basis, ideally at least monthly, good at chatting to strangers and happy to clean up glass bottles! All volunteers undergo a DBS check, are provided with training and uniform to wear whilst on patrol.

If you would like to be part of this lifechanging work — making Putney safer, kinder and more connected — please get in touch:

[email protected]

Thank you to every single volunteer who has given their time, compassion and energy over the past year. Your work has not gone unnoticed — and Putney is a better place because of you!