Guildford Street Angels helping to ensure a safe nightlife for the town
Guildford Street Angels are volunteers who are non-judgemental who are well-known by many for their patrols on Friday and Saturday nights in the town centre.
The angels provide practical care, support and love for those who may be vulnerable or in need of some help.
Being separated from friends, intoxication and assault are just a few of the ways that people can become isolated and vulnerable during a night out. Guildford Street Angels are there to help overcome these situations.
As well as ensuring people get home safely, the Street Angels also alleviate some pressures on emergency services in the area.
Guildford Street Angels Co-ordinator Ben Pitt said:
"If we're around in the town centre providing support and preventing some things from escalating, then hopefully it can take some pressure off of the emergency services.
"We are there to be a friendly figure, which allows people to want to approach us, we are a bit more of listening ear."
Street Angels commit to one evening a month and undertake a variety of training. All angels work in pairs and with the emergency services to be as helpful to those in need as possible.
The Guildford Street Angel project is run by Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy and was set up in 2008.
They work from 10:30pm until 4am to make an impact on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour by being a compassionate presence.
Street Angels offer many ways of helping on nights out, from charging phones to handing out lollipops.
The Angels are usually welcomed by night-owls in the town centre, Ben said:
"Generally people love seeing us. We always have our lollipops with us.
"Especially young ladies absolutely love it when we have flip flops. When they are in that moment and they are struggling to walk and you give them some flip flops it just blows their mind. It's great."
Guildford Street Angels are trained in personal safety, listening skills, cultural awareness, understanding their town, drug and alcohol awareness, child protection, and working with the emergency services.
If you would like to find out more about Guildford Street Angels, what they do, or how to become a volunteer, details can be found on their website https://gtcc.org.uk/street-angels/