Beeston Street Angels help protect late night revellers in Nottingham

This Friday night, 11th March, HOPE Nottingham will launch Beeston Street Angels to help make the area of Beeston a safer and enjoyable place to be at night. This is the first of a number of projects to be rooted in the Borough. Roy Crowne, Executive Director of HOPE, the Mayor and Mayoress of Broxtowe and Paul Blakey MBE, the Founder of Street Angels, will join the brand new team on launch night and take full part in the Angels experience.

In Beeston and across the country, Street Angels involves teams of volunteers walking through town centres on Fridays and Saturday evenings from 9.00pm to the early hours of the morning. These projects are part of a larger network, of 70 different groups known as Christian Nightlife initiatives which reach out to clubbers and the vulnerable in the night time economy. The Angel volunteers promote a positive friendly atmosphere in and around the town; they are on hand to assist those who need it, to keep safe those who have had one too many drinks, and to engage creatively with young people. The Mayor and Mayoress of Broxtowe have committed to joining the team in Beeston on a regular basis.

Roy Crowne, who leads HOPE and is from Hackney in East London is well aware of the challenges. Ahead of his visit to Beeston this weekend, Roy said: “I am really looking forward to being an Angel for an evening and encouraging the team as they start out. I’m ready for anything that presents itself. Being a Street Angel is all about bringing hope to communities and encouraging safer streets. It’s an amazing thing to be part of and all power to those who volunteer on a regular basis. The simple act of being present where people are makes a huge difference. It demonstrates that the Church is active in the community but also that God loves each person. This new project and partnership is exactly the kind we need all around the UK to bring HOPE to our nation.“

Nigel Adams, Director of Hope Nottingham echoed Roy’s words saying: "I am delighted to welcome Roy, Paul and the Mayor of Broxtowe with us on our first night, and for coming out to join us on our first patrol in Beeston. I think Street Angels is exactly what Beeston needs as it follows in the footsteps on other projects across the country. It is an encouragement to see the warm welcome that we have received, even before hitting the streets. I hope Street Angels can be extended beyond Beeston to other parts of Nottingham.”

Beeston Street Angels will be in high visibility bright blue jackets so visible to all. Posters and flyers will raise awareness of the new scheme for the community and include a help number for assistance. The teams will work closely with the local police and Broxtowe community safety team.

Beeston’s launch is just one many Street Angels projects around the country under the umbrella of Christian Nightlife Initiatives. Paul Blakey MBE, who will be joining the volunteers in Beeston, founded Street Angels in Halifax in November 2005.

If you would like further information on Beeston Street Angels, please contact Nigel Adams, Director of Hope Nottingham on 0115 943 6081 or email hope@hopenottingham.org.uk  visit www.hopenottingham.org.uk  

The Beeston Street Angels launch evening programme is:- 7.30pm
Commissioning Service at Queens Road Methodist Church NG9 2FF
This will involve the Mayor, Paul Blakey MBE, Founder of Street Angels and Roy Crowne, Executive Director of HOPE. 8.00pm Pizza reception ; 8.30pm Teams head off to Beeston CCTV control room, which will be the base every time teams go out.; 9.00pm Patrol ready to go.