CAMBERLEY STREET ANGELS
Street Angels arevolunteers who believe that people deserve care and love in their time of need. Those needs could be as a result of intoxication, drug abuse, assault,homelessness, or any other issue which has caused personal distress or the potential for physical harm. Most often we come across people in need of help because of being drunk or having taken drugs. Yes, indeed you may think
“"they've brought it on themselves". But when you're drunk, cold and miserable, you are vulnerable and you need help. Christ demonstrated practical love to those who came to him in need, and Street Angels is a great way to follow his example”Chris
What do Street Angels do?We walk around Camberley on Friday and Saturday nights, between 10.00pm until the last venue, Tru, closes, and most people have gone away home. We talk to anyone and everyone; sometimes “hello, having a good night?”; at others answering questions from them – “who are you?”, “why do you do this?”, “do you get paid?”
Early on we look particularly at bus stops and where people may be leaving cinemas or pubs, to make sure no-one is lost or alone and wandering and in need of help. As the night progresses we are more likely to find people who have become separated from their friends, or maybe are drunk and incapable of finding their way to a taxi or to call for a lift. Sometimes they are sick or confused and need greater help. Occasionally people need to have an ambulance called because they are so ill, or extremely cold or have been thumped by “some guy, I dunno….”
“An appreciative thank you from a parent/grandparent who is ferrying home a poorly young person you've been looking after is worth braving the cold, late nights!”Hollie
We also pick up glasses and glass bottles and put them safely into litter bins – well out of harm’s way. There is often rivalry over who can spot the most.
We don’t evangelise. We answer question about our Faith when asked, andmay get into quite deep conversations. Sometimes people welcome being included in our prayers.
How do we work?We have a rota planned for each quarter ahead. People are helpful in swapping their nights if someone can’t do a particular shift. There should be 6 SAs in each Friday or Saturday night team. Generally two pairs will be out on patrol whilst two will be back at our base, having a “brew” and a comfort break. We always keep with our partner – no SA should be alone on the street at any time.
Each pair carries a radio which has a special link to the police, door staff and Woking CCTV control room. We are not on the general Police net, but we can hear radio messages about local incidents and can be called to help someone who maybe spotted by door staff for example. We can also call for help from the Police or tell them if we see something “kicking off”.
Each pair also has a back-pack of kit including tissues, wet wipes, flip-flops and foil “space blankets”. We carry lollipops in our pockets. Why? Well if you’re sucking a lollipop, you can’t shout, swear or wind someone up. It also provides sugar – drink and exertion deplete blood sugar, then people get grumpy and may be aggressive.Have you seen the height of the heels the girls wear?Try walking home – or even to the taxi rank – when you’re inebriated on 6 inch heels… we do make sure they have a way to go before offering flip flops – otherwise precious flip-flops may end up in a collection – yes, some youngsters are collecting flip-flops from different SA groups – Woking, Guildford, Camberley… We wrap a foil blanket around those who are becoming seriously cold, and the surprising thing is how many young people do very well wearing a minimum of clothing. Street Angels’
“feet are freezing even though you have 2 pairs of socks, tights under your jeans, 3 layers of jumpers and a thick coat, hat scarf and gloves, whilst the young girls are still out on the street wearing strappy tops and shorts with no shoes on but don’t feel cold” Karen
What support do Street Angels have?The Camberley team is supported by Surrey Police and the Safer Surrey Partnership, and operationally we work alongside the police and door staff, and within the areas covered by CCTV.
New recruits are trained before they venture out
“(I) learned a lot more than I imagined from the course, so felt comfortable and well-equipped on my first outing as a Street Angel…”Pattie
There are also periodic informal one-off training sessions such as in resuscitation techniques or drugs awareness.Anyone who is interested can accompany a team one evening to see what it’s like.
We pray for ourselves and for those we may meet, and always at the start and end of a shift. Some SA’s have people outside the group who pray for the individual when they are on shift.
Who is a Street Angel?Read the pen pictures in this article.
I'm a very ordinary person without any particular relevant skills except a willingness to learn and listen!....When I heard about Street Angels I wondered if the individuals would be over-earnest holy joes. I found instead a diverse set of normal people, being interesting and humble people who go about their business with great humour and care for others. Jo
Our volunteers range in age from 20’s to late 70’s. Some have a young family; others are “empty nesters”, some are single parents. Couples may do a shift together. Some people have demanding jobs, others are retired. SAs travel in from Farnham, Ascot and Bracknell. Anyone and everyone who attends a Church within the Churches Together Camberley group may apply to be a Street Angel.
And the young revelers out in Camberley relate to each of us
“Street Angels we love you!” 'You're great, we love Street Angels'. ‘Can we have a Lollypop?' “
together with beery hugs and cuddles – and a great deal of respect.
“Street Angels do a fantastic job and the benefit is incalculable. The volunteers are awesome and should be highly commended. You helped my daughter out once and I will be forever grateful to you …………….. God bless”
this message was recently received and circulated to us by our co-ordinator, anonymously. It was gratifying to know that someone appreciated our work, and interesting that each and every SA in Camberley could remember occasions when that grateful parent could have been referring to a young person they had helped.
Do Street Angels make adifference?It is certainly a lot calmer now than when Street Angel began over 3 years ago, and people welcome our presence. The Police have reported a real difference. It is hard when nothing much seems to be happening on a shift, and we have to remember that our presence and prayers cause a change.
“We have brought safety, love and kindness and assurance to the nightlife in Camberley and my experience of the attitude and calm that compares to when we first started, is that we have also brought the presence of God onto the streets”.Kathy
…..”things have quietened down quite considerably since my first few months serving as a SA and do firmly believe that God is working with the youth in the Camberley area.”Pattie
For the many, many individuals that SAs have helped the difference is incalculable. It is
…” important that Street Angels are out every week. We can’t second guess which are going to be the busy nights, or the night when we will have that special conversation with one individual “…..Steve
Camberley Street Angels need more volunteers Obviously over time people move away or for good reason can no longer do a shift. We have a 5 week rota, so we need 60 active SAs + a few to cover for holidays or illnesses.
Please consider becoming a StreetAngel. No matter what your age, how young your children are, where you live or your (lack of) fitness, there will be a Street Angel in the team who can mirror your circumstances. Come out with us and try it one evening!
A P February 2013