The work of Street Angels is set to celebrate a milestone later this month as the movement turns eighteen.
Launched on 25th November 2005, Street Angels has become a model of best practice for towns and cities across the UK and overseas and has inspired several spin-off projects. Street Angels, who are famous for handing out flip-flops and lollipops, have helped reduce violent crime and anti-social behaviour in many of the communities where the volunteer teams work. Paul Blakey MBE, the founder of Street Angels, says, "Eighteen years ago the original Street Angels didn't imagine that our simple response to an out of control Friday and Saturday night in Halifax would become a movement of projects around the world. "People who care, simply loving the person in front of them, is a powerful act that makes a massive difference whether on the streets, at a music festival, in a shop or nightclub through chaplaincy or supporting some of the most vulnerable within our communities. "I am so thankful for everyone who has volunteered and stood with us throughout these last eighteen years." The hundred local projects, who are now overseen by the charity Redeeming Our Communities, have expanded to include initiatives such as: Festival Angels, who work at or support work at many of the UK's biggest music festivals; Chaplaincy teams supporting staff and customers in pubs, nightclubs and town centres; support for homeless communities; and offering safe place drop-in's. Whilst some projects have come and gone due to changes within the night-time economy, new projects continue to launch. Recent months have seen Street Angels starting along the North Wales coast, in Accrington and Chester. New Festival Angels teams this summer were at Download in Castle Donington, Parklife in Manchester, Porthleven Food Festival, Cornwall and Yarty Party in Devon. More information on the work of ROC Angels and the local projects can be found at www.streetangels.org.uk or by searching ROCStreetAngels on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. -- ends -- Pictures below: The newest team of Street Angels in Accrington Leeds Festival Angels volunteers
Paul's ROC Angels visit to Fleet Angels, Woking Street Angels and Maidenhead Street Angels9/20/2023
Paul was at the final celebration event for Camberley Street Angels . The evening included stories and memories from volunteers and coordinators from across the 14 years the team has operated. Messages of support were shared from police, councillors and local MP Michael Gove. One speaker spoke how he looked upon Street Angels as manure: helping the community and people grow; spreading widely; impacting and changing the culture. Paul thanked the volunteers and said the stories and memories have shown they have made history in Camberley through the dedication, passion, investment and by loving the person in front of them. Gifts of engraved paperweights were given to the volunteers (one hundred and twelve people over fourteen years). Thanks to all - the legacy of lives changed and community impact will last for generations to come.
Final Call for Leeds Festival Lost Property:
As Leeds Festival 2023 becomes a memory the Festival Angels are putting out a final call for people to claim items that have ended up in Lost Property. Hundreds of items have already been returned to owners and it is hoped the final push will see the majority of items returned to the owners before the 1st October closing date. Along with assorted clothing, bags and jewellery, the Festival Angels Lost Property also has: 52 wallets, 25 mobile phones, 109 full and provisional driving licences, hundreds of bank cards, 3 passports, dozens of sets of keys. Festival goers are invited to visit leedsfestivalangels.org.uk to access the LiffHappens database of unclaimed items. Most of the items are photographed but some deliberately have no image so that we can match descriptions with the item. Unclaimed items will be donated to St George's Crypt, the relevant agencies or destroyed. Festival Angels, who this year had two hundred and five volunteers working at Leeds Festival, have successfully reunited hundreds of items both at and following Leeds Festival. |
ROC Angels NewsThis blog is a place for stories and news updates from within the ROC Angels family. |
ROC Angels - an initiative of ROC (Redeeming Our Communities)
Charity - 1139817 / Registered Company - 7327258 Postal Address: ROC Angels, c/o The King's Centre, Park Rd, Halifax, HX1 2TS E-Mail: [email protected] (founder / CEO) / Phone: 07725501465 |