First patrol for Angylion y Stryd Colwyn Bay team

Friday, 21st April, saw the first night on patrol for the Angylion y Stryd team in Colwyn Bay.

The team of Street Angel volunteers met at the base and safe place drop in, @20 Station Road, in Colwyn Bay town centre.

Kitted out with high-vis tabards, flip-flops, bottles of water, first aid supplies, and lollipops the team took to the streets between 8pm and midnight.

​Early on in the evening  the team patrolled the town centre, pier and promenade. They chatted to several people about the work of Street Angels and let people know that teams would be out every Friday. The later team offered some much needed help and assistance to several people ensuring they got home safely.

Suzanne Coleman, a member of Antioch church and coordinator of the Colwyn Bay project, said "We thought going out on the streets was going to be difficult but in fact it was easy, often as easy as just asking somebody how they were.'

Colwyn Bay's second project will see Skate Angels supporting young people in the town's skate park. The team will set up a gazebo and offer water, snacks and spare parts to help repair broken skateboards.

Korey Finch, from Conwy Youth for Christ, coordinator of the Skate Angels team comments, "The skatepark is such an important space in our community! We hope that by being there, local folks will know that they are loved and supported"

Paul Blakey MBE, who founded Street Angels in Halifax in 2005, was with the team on the inaugural patrols. He said, "It has been great to share the Street Angels story and offer training to volunteers across North Wales. The positive response and conversations with those out and about in Colwyn Bay on Friday night was wonderful and shows the value in Street Angels and their aim to love the person in front of you."

Rhyl will see Street Angels on patrol on some Saturday's over the summer with more volunteers needed to offer help and support to those out and about in Rhyl. 

Funding for these projects has come from the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s Innovate to Grow initiative. This fund helps support new and innovative ways of solving the problems that can often lead to criminal behaviour in communities.

Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, comments, "My Innovate to Grow initiative targets and invests in projects dealing with the root causes of crime across North Wales, especially ones that offer new and innovative ideas of preventing and tackling wrongdoing. I would like to thank the local Street Angel volunteers who have stepped up to offer their time to assist residents and visitors during the night time economy in Colwyn Bay and Rhyl.”

More information is at streetangels.org.uk/northwales