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"Every night is different for the
Street Angels.
We sometimes have to wait with vulnerable girls at
bus stops to make sure they get on a bus safely, or we
might accompany someone home who is too drunk to find
their way or call them a taxi and inform whoever is at
home that they are on their way. Some girls take their
stilettos off at the end of a long night and walk
barefooted on the streets, so our teams carry flip-flops
to hand out to them so their feet are protected from
broken glass and syringes," says an experienced Street
Angel.
We are planning to set up Street Angels in Slough later
this year. The Street Angels will be a team of
Christians available to everyone using and working in
Slough Town Centre late at night. They will be a
practical expression of Christ's love providing
unconditional, non-judgmental support and practical
help.
The Street Angels will be volunteers who will offer love
and care to those in need in the town centre. Those
needs could be as a result of homelessness,
intoxication, drug abuse, assault or any other issue
which has caused personal distress or the potential for
physical harm. The Street Angels will help people
whoever they are and whatever their situation by
listening, caring, offering practical help or by
referring people to other agencies who can help them.
Slough Street Angels will operate with support from the
Police. Initially Slough Street Angels will operate on
Friday nights from around 9pm to 3am when the pubs are
closing. We hope to expand this to cover Saturday nights
as well.
All the Street Angels will be volunteers who are over 18
years of age. They will be trained and wear a
distinctive uniform. Slough Street Angels will operate
from a base at Kingsway URC in Church Street.
What difference does it make?
Street Angels (and similar programmes like Street
Pastors) have been springing up across the UK for over
five years. They are making a really positive impact on
crime and antisocial behavior in town centres
(particularly in the vicinity of bars and clubs) by
providing a calming presence on the streets late at
night.
They have also been appreciated by people especially
young people who are out and about. One mother said to
an Angel in a neighbouring town, "I am so grateful to
people like you as I know my children come into town.
You make the place more welcoming and safe. I know if
my son or daughter had a problem while they were out,
they could come and talk to you and you would help".
How can I get involved?
If you'd like to find out more about becoming a Street
Angel (or how you can be involved in any other way
please contact
Dave Nicks on 01753-577475 or e.mail
sloughstreetangels@gmail.com
http://www.streetangels.org.uk/welcome.htm
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