A ROC Angels Update for ROC

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The work of ROC Angels, which supports projects such as Street Angels and Festival Angels, continues to grow and develop. Here is a snapshot of what 2023 has looked like so far!

Sharing Stories:
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​At the ROC Conference in November several local projects met up and shared stories and filmed TikTok videos which have proved popular on social media. Telling the stories of faith in action through the amazing investment volunteers are making into local communities is one of our passions. This last few weeks has seen us: talking to groups of luncheon clubs, schools, church communities and WI’s showing faith in action; taking part in several media opportunities across newspapers, radio and TV; sharing the good, the bad and the ugly of heading up a national Christian ministry to those at the start of a similar journey; talking about influence to The Independent Schools Christian Alliance.

Festival Angels:
Festival Angels season is now underway. Although these don’t happen until the summer there is a lot of planning, recruiting and organising involved in each festival outreach. ROC Angels is either running or supporting teams at Porthleven Food Festival, Tunes in the Dunes, Creamfields, Download, 12 gigs in Halifax Piece Hall, several festivals in Upton-upon-Severn, Kendal Calling, CreationFest and Leeds Festival. Festival Angels is a great opportunity to share that Jesus Loves Festivals in very practical ways and is seen as a trusted and valued partner with festival organisers. For more information visit festivalangels.org.uk or watch this video which shows life at Leeds Festival:

Angylion y Stryd Sir Conwy/Ddinbych:

At the invitation of the Police at the ROC Conversation held in September we have started the process of setting up Street Angels in North Wales. ROC Angels founder and CEO Paul Blakey was in North Wales in January and presented the Street Angels story to over 60 people across 3 events in Towyn, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay. Funding has come from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s Innovate to Grow initiative with the PCC, Andy Dunbobbin, attending the event in Colwyn Bay. Letters of support for the scheme have been received from Members of the Welsh Parliament Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS and Sam Rowlands MS and local councillors. At the information events a whole range of potential ideas were shared including:

Chaplaincy support to businesses and people in town centres during the day
Street Angels twilight to engage with young people
Safe place drop-in / cafe day and night time
Street Angels in Colwyn Bay and Rhyl
Festival Angels around Colwyn Bay park events and maybe Rhyl airshow
Caravan Park Angels travelling along the many caravan parks across the coast

Paul is in North Wales again in February to run a training night and to meet church leaders in Llandundo. It is hoped to launch projects from Easter with many running for the summer season.

Visiting and Supporting Projects:

Paul is actively out and about visiting projects or on phone and zoom calls offering support. 2023 visits include Hanley NightChurch and Blackpool and the Fylde Street Angels. Paul has also visited and supported potential new street projects in Skelmersdale, Northwich and Bridlington and chatted to many local teams about re-looking at the work they do as town and city centres at night and subsequently needs change (a recent report showed trade was down by 21% in December 2022 compared to December 2019).

WalkSafe app:
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ROC Angels has partnered with an amazing new app that helps people be safe when out and about. Free to download from the Play or App Store Walksafe – walksafe.io – will also start to include live feeds of where those who are needing support can find one of the ROC Angel teams. Launched at an event in Bradford the app can be used to help locate friends and join friends virtually on journeys home.

Connect:
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​You can connect with ROC Angels on several social media platforms – ROCStreetAngels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok or streetangels.org.uk . Our Festival Angels work is FestivalAngels on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok and FestivalAngels1 on Instagram. We regularly share updates from our local projects and ROC Angels nationally.