Street Angels founder Paul Blakey has recently joined the Trustee boards of both Blackpool and the Fylde Street Angels and Middlesbrough Street Angels.

Blackpool and the Fylde Street Angels were a local branch of ROC Angels. Due to the growth in the number of projects and finances the group have now set up as its own charity. 

Middlesbrough, or Boro, Angels is well established in the town and offer support to those on a night out, the homeless community and within the university quarter. 

Gary Wootten from Street Angels Chester, Street Angels Birkenhead and Hitched Communities was in Belgium for a nighttime economy conference - he writes:

In May I had the opportunity to join fellow professionals from the international night time economy for the 13th Club Health International conference, this time in Ghent.

Besides learning from others about some brilliant innovative projects and latest challenges and thinking linked to the sector, I had been invited to talk about the impactful work of Street Angels and some of the innovative partnership working with technologist organisations such as walksafe.io used to pinpoint support and keep people safe at night.

I have had the chance to set up, lead and grow two Street Angel projects in the past two years, each now independently evaluated by Univerisity of Chester, and each able to demonstrate a positive impact with the public, stakeholders and volunteers themselves.

A walking club with an exciting twist, no two evenings are the same as volunteers walk the city or town streets from 10pm to as late as 3am.

Interventions range from first aid or emotional support for street sleepers and revellers, to signposting services and keeping streets clear of broken glass. The main aim is to love the person in front of you and help create a positive culture, putting safety first.

Care team initiatives and positive bystander effect were mentioned regularly during the conference. None were voluntary, and it was the first time a churches-led initiative had been presented. This combined with the innovation of walksafe technology, brought many hopeful and curious questions from the audience about impact, sustainability, and how it can be replicated. The answers of course were linked to a desire amongst volunteers to have purpose and do something different that helped the community they loved. A togetherness amongst stakeholders and shared vision, brought via networks such as with churches, pubwatch and purple flag. And the very fact it is replicated again and again, through the support of an overarching organisation able to guide common practice and avoid pitfalls, whilst ensuring each project is locally owned and managed. Support when you need it, and when you can offer it - a family of projects that look out for each other, each with its own identity, and each designed to support the community it knows best.

My journey with Street Angels has been a rollercoaster and a delight.

Just as members of the public are impacted for years through a simple intervention at a moment of need, I am not at all surprised people stay involved for many many years.

​There will be plenty more stories to share with Club Health International, and many more for us to be inspired by from others.

Paul, CEO of ROC Angels, visited the Street Angels Chester team. Paul shared the story of Street Angels, as we approach our 20 year anniversary, and about some of the other projects within ROC Angels including Festival Angels, Club Angels, Rail Responders and work with the Homeless. Paul presented the team with 2 of the StreetFlow bags, which will be used to support homeless women in the city, Part of the evening was to say thank you to the team for the part they play in changing the culture around alcohol use, violent crime and anti-social behaviour as we partner with others with an aim to loving the person in front of us. 

Street Angels impacts volunteers and the community in Birkenhead

An independent study from the University of Chester has revealed the Street Angels Birkenhead project brings strong community impact to the public and to those volunteering.

Street Angels Birkenhead was launched in December 2024 by Hitched Communities. It involves local volunteers walking the streets of Birkenhead on weekend nights to offer emotional and practical support to anyone that needs and wants it. Whether it’s offering water and first-aid assistance or signposting vulnerable individuals to specialist services. The priority is creating a safer environment at night.

Using a mix of interviews, nightly shift reports, and observations, Dr Simone Benhafsi from the University of Chester produced a comprehensive overview of the programme’s operation and its impact on Birkenhead’s weekend night-time economy.

The evaluation highlights the benefits of partnership working with local businesses, police, and faith communities, building trust, safety and collaboration through community-led action.

Feedback from both volunteers and stakeholders also reflects high satisfaction, with volunteers feeling valued and confident in their roles.

One volunteer said: “Street Angels is important, it adds value to Birkenhead”. Another added “If people want us then we’ll be there”.

Dr Benhafsi’s report not only confirms that the project is operating well—it also provides clear, evidence-based recommendations to enhance the long-term future of the project.

“The evaluation highlights the vital role Street Angels play in providing both practical and emotional front-line support,” says Dr Simone Benhafsi (University of Chester).

“With enhanced hours and funding, this model has the potential to become a longterm asset to Birkenhead’s community safety framework.”

Gary Wootten, Director of Hitched Communities, and project lead, said: “The people of Birkenhead have been really supportive of the project. Volunteers are also benefiting by feeling more connected to the community, helping people in need, making new friends and keeping fit. We now hope to offer earlier shifts on Fridays and align shifts with key local events.”

He added “We also look forward to deepening collaboration with the police, licensing teams, night-time economy venues, and the faith community.”

The charity now hopes to expand the volunteer pool and develop shift leaders to enable more shifts.

If you would like to volunteer please get in touch via www.streetangelsbirkenhead.org.uk