Street Angels spread wings to watch over city centre drinkers
STREET Angels helping revellers who may have become worse for wear are looking to spread their wings into Hull city centre.
Launched last September in Princes Avenue, west Hull, the Street Angels go to the aid of people who may have drunk too much or are considered vulnerable.
-
The Street Angels, seen here in Princes Avenue, are set to patrol Hull city centre.
The volunteers – wearing high-visibility jackets and trained in first aid – patrol on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm until 1am, handing out bottles of water and ensuring individuals get home safely.
Now, following the success of the west Hull project, the team are planning to set-up a similar scheme in Hull's busy city centre.
The move has been welcomed by publicans, police and the NHS.
Matthew Lunn, Hull Street Angels development worker, said: "We have been well received in Princes Avenue and people are recognising we are here to help.
"We all want Hull to be a safe city for people to enjoy themselves and this is part of that.
"From time to time people do have too much to drink and we are on hand to give them any assistance we can.
"We have made great progress in the last year and are looking to expand into the city centre and if we can get something set-up it would be brilliant."
The volunteers, who are based at Princes Avenue Methodist Church – which runs the scheme – are briefed by police before they go out onto the streets.
There are 20 volunteers who patrol in pairs and keep in contact via two-way radios.
They clear any glasses or bottles left on the pavement or road and hand out flip-flops to women who have taken off their high-heels and are walking in bare feet.
Steve Shaw, of Princes Avenue venue Pave, said: "If the volunteers are helping someone who has had a bit too much to drink it allows the police to deal with any serious incidents that may occur."
Anyone interested in volunteering for the Street Angels can call Mr Lunn on 07986 627061.
Have your say: Comment on this article below, or you can email us and have your letter published in the Mail
26 Comments
View all
by stephen, hull
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:57PM
“Rob is hold my head in shame! VVV sorry!”
by Robert, Hull
Thursday, July 29 2010, 7:46PM
“Hull, Hull. yes think of what Princes Avenue was like a decade ago. No bars, either walk to Queen's or Botanic. Boarded up shops and it like a mortuary after 6pm. now it there are people employed and a bit of life.
Not to mention property prices increased as it was no longer like living in the back of beyond. Of course house owners never seem to mention that.”
by Robert, Hull
Thursday, July 29 2010, 7:43PM
“Stephen, calm down. I never mentioned Sainsbury's as I wasn't replying to your post.
If you look I quoted another poster's post and made no reference to yours.
Maybe if you didn't rush so much and get so indignant you'd be able to spell and punctuate like someone who is old enough to drink having read the story correctly.
As it happens I think supermarkets shouldn't be allowed to sell alcohol all day at cheap prices. I'd stop them selling alcohol but the government wants the taxes so it won't happen. simpler to tell pubs to close early and pretend they are doing something. This is what is causing the problems not the bars, over 90% of which are shut by midnight. Why should older, responsible people be told they can't stay out past 11pm and pay heavily for the privilege because young kids are getting blitzed on cheap ale. The police want to go in hard and be backed by the courts as happens in Belgium, Holland, Germany etc where bars are open from early morning until 3,4am and even later in some cities there. Why do we have so many miserable people in this country who want everything to be shut and everyone tucked up in bed by midnight? Yet when they go abroad are the last to leave the bars. A case of NIMBYism?”
by Billy, Hull
Thursday, July 29 2010, 7:01PM
“Tina not good enough, Antony only morons get drunk and need help from others doh”
by martin, east hull
Thursday, July 29 2010, 6:23PM
“Once again we are getting policeing on the cheap. thease good people should be paid a decent wage for putting they lives at risk. thet is more then enouth police to protect the pubic at the weekend round the city centre. Why cant the police protect the public on the houseing estates were they are really needed from all the lobos who roam the eatates causeing havac with all the crime that is commited. dont just protect the rich what a bout the poor?”