Visit of Paul Blakey to Tamworth Street Angels

Paul (and Jean I hope) Blakey will be visiting Tamworth on:
Tuesday 21st July 2015 @ 7:30pm

The venue for  the evening will be:
St Francis’ Church, Masefield Drive, Tamworth B79 8JB

 

Paul will be coming to touch base and update on the work of CNI generally and we will hopefully be joined by members of other groups and hopefully some representation for the council and the local policing unit too. 

We have much to share and much to celebrate so please make a note in your diary about the evening and bring others along so they can get a feel for who we are and what we do and perhaps sign up and join us to. Look forward to seeing you there.

THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING: ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

Tamworth Street Angels - God's love on the streets

I was so immensely proud of all the people who don orange jackets and go out onto the streets of Tamworth to care for those people who need a friend for a variety of reasons (because people are vulnerable and in need of a friend for many reasons - not just because of the popular myth that it's all about alcohol!) for the reasons this letter gives:

Tamworth Street Angels - Another step further

Three years or so on and Tamworth Street Angels has a bunch of trustees in place and the various elements relating to training and linking in to the town's services are also coming together and so it is with some great pleasure that I can announce a public meeting to inform, recruit and generally enthuse those who would like to become part of Tamworth's Street Angels group.

click to enlarge

Please tell your friends (if you have friends),  acquaintances, fellow church members (if you go to church), colleagues, fellow unbelievers (if you're non-theist) and strangers you meet in the street, on the trains, buses and down the nick!

Anywhere and everywhere - spread the good news that Tamworth is moving up a gear when it comes to being a caring society.

And be warned - there's more good news to come very soon (so have a nap!).

You have the time, the date and the location - so see you very soon I hope (refreshments provided)

Tamworth Street Angels

At eleven O'clock yesterday (2nd July 2013) the town of Tamworth gave birth to a new community project in the shape of Tamworth Street Angels.

For those of you who are asking the question, 'What?' Here's the answer:

The idea of the Street Angels is that they are a group of volunteers who give up their time between 9:30pm in the evening and 2am in the morning to ensure that those who come into our town to enjoy themselves do exactly that in a safe and secure environment. The Street Angels are there to offer support to those who have enjoyed themselves a little too much and offer water, tea and coffee, a listening ear to make sure that the laughter doesn't turn to tears.

When those high heels become a little too high for comfort, the Street Angels are there to offer flip flops and a less fashionable, but safer, choice of footwear and when emotions run high, they are there to defuse the situation and to bring dialogue (or perhaps stop it when it gets to rich) and help restore the conditions that make it all fun again.

In short - Street Angels are there to make sure that all those out on the town are as safe as we'd like to think our own children are!

They're not a group of vigilantes, 'Guardian Angels',  or people looking to get involved as police officers (after all we have a fine bunch of 'Specials' who do that for us) - They're just a bunch of people who want our town to be a safe and enjoyable place to be and what the people partying in it to be as safe as possible too.

Interested?

email: tamworthstreetangels-enquiries@yahoo.co.uk

We need people who willing to get involved and the bottom line is that they have to love people and be able to keep their cool when others aren't. We are not out there on the streets to judge or preach or be authoritarian - we are out there because we care enough to want to make a difference.

For those who are worried about, or think that, this as 'just about ministering to, working with or caring for drunks', you can rest easy for it isn't! This is about much more than alcohol - it's about engagement and being there for others.

For those who think that this might be, 'One of those Christian ghetto things;' again you can rest easy for although this initiative is Christian (that's what CNI is about) it's open to all and it's there for all. It's not about proselytising but about serving - and you don't need to be a person of faith to do good stuff now, do you?

So what are you waiting for?

Street Angels - Something good hits the streets

Last night I was privileged to spend some time with Burton's Street Angels as they went about their Thursday night engagement with the partying population of that place. Going out in teams of four, each one having a role as Team Leader, Mel, briefed the others (who fulfilled roles doing First Aid, Radio Communications and the like) on last week's experiences and provided general intelligence of what was happening in the community (end of term for the college) and what they might expect.

This done the team loaded up and went out to work their patch (with me as gooseberry in two :-)) and what I saw was great. There were the guys who work at getting people into their clubs, the security people (doormen) and the general populace were all in evidence and the team were greeted and engaged with as friends. No wonder as they make life simpler by helping those who have had a little too much to drink, provide flip flops for those who can no longer balance on the amazing hiiiiiigh heels, pass out water, provide tea, coffee and help those who would otherwise get into trouble stay out of it!

As they walked the streets, one of those who passed them asked, "What are Street Angels?' to which the bloke she was with said, 'They look after you if you get drunk.'

Never has a truer word been said!

Street Angels are there to help those enjoying themselves do so in a safe and protected environment and many do it because it's an extension of their Christian ministry of getting out there and serving their communities - want to know more?

Then find one in your area and if you can't - then it's time to talk to CNI and start one where you are :-)

Tamworth - An offer you can't refuse

For a few years now I have wondered how best we can serve the people of our town and one exceptionally valuable (and effective) way we can do this appears to be by getting out on the ground and getting involved with those who come into our town to enjoy a social life in the evenings.

And before anyone gets on their soap box - It's not one of those 'Christians Only' (or even just a 'certain type of Christian') things - there are no monopolies and there's nothing about the ghetto here for all are welcome to help in what will be a collaborative effort between volunteers and other agencies (including the police and other statutory bodies).

So - if you are an adult (18 or over) living in, or around, Tamworth and would like to help listen, support and provide care for those coming into the town to enjoy its great social life then now's your opportunity. Training is given and all we will be asking is that you commit to a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 2am.

The role is varied and a typical evening might see you handing out water (or chocolate), talking to angry, confused or disorientated people; perhaps you'll be arranging a taxi (or a lift from someone at home), taking shopping trolleys back to somewhere safe so they don't end up going through a window or used as a weapon when tempers flare (and they do from time to time). Sometimes it's giving out space blankets or tea, coffee or another hot drink and other times it's something you've never thought of before.

Whatever the problem, we're on the streets to make the evening run smoothly and to keep the incidents and incidence of hurting people to a minimum.

And if you don't live in Tamworth?

Why not take a look at:

And find out what there is going on in your community (and if there's nothing - start something)