To receive separate presentations from the RBWM Community Wardens and the Maidenhead Street Angels on public safety and protection in Maidenhead.

Peter Murkin, RBWM Community Warden, was unable to attend the meeting due to illness and was also unable to arrange someone to substitute. As a result, a presentation on the RBWM Community Wardens was unable to take place.

Jeanette Lock, Chair of the Maidenhead Street Angels, explained that the Street Angels Initiative was set up in 2005 in Halifax as a joint venture between the Churches Together in England and the YMCA England & Wales (Young Men’s Christian Association). It was set up to address the problems of violence on the streets at night, sexual assaults, underage drinking, binge drinking and various other problems at night. Within weeks, according to Jeanette Lock, the Street Angels had made a huge difference.

The Street Angels had been in Maidenhead since 2011, with its first patrol on 11^th February 2011 being launched by Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead. They were composed of volunteers, predominantly Christians from different churches but included people from other religious faiths and people with no faith.

The objective of the Angels was to provide assistance to people which they came across on the streets at night, such as excessive alcoholic drinkers, drug users and victims of drink spiking. The Street Angels looked out for people who had been separated from their friends (e.g., as a result of quarrelling), leaving them vulnerable on their own in the town at night and possibly under the influence of alcohol, and usually helped them get home safely by taking them to a nearby taxi. They also looked out for homeless people in Maidenhead, providing them with sleeping bags, blankets and hot soup. Jeanette Lock informed that the Street Angels had an “amazing relationship” with the fast-food restaurants whereby they would donate (at no cost) hot food and a drink to the Angels who would then give them to the homeless person.

Jeanette Lock explained that the Street Angels came across many people who were sometimes lonely, had mental health problems or emotionally distressed, and that they sometimes wanted someone to talk to and be listened to.

The Street Angels received great support from the pubs and nightclubs; for example, a nightclub bought all the bottled water for the Angels, while a pub provided the Angels the lollipops. A lot of pubs (but one in particularly) provided the Street Angels a free hot drink and allowed them to use their facilities.

Jeanette Lock stated that the Street Angels had a “calming influence” in Maidenhead, with people at the doors of pubs and nightclubs saying that the presence of the Street Angels wandering around made a difference.

Jeanette Lock informed that the Street Angels sought to get a team out every Saturday as well as the last Friday of each month (i.e., payday Friday). They met at 9:45pm at their base at Kingsway House (next door to the Methodist Church), where they stored their supplies, such as water, lollipops and flip-flops. As a predominantly Christian movement, Street Angels would start with prayers. They would start their patrols at 10:00pm and end at around 1:00am. However, they may finish earlier if it was a wet night or if there was little activity; or they may stay out longer if it was a busy night.

Jeanette Lock explained that the Street Angels walked around the main part of Maidenhead, namely King’s Street, Queen’s Street and the High Street, walking around three miles a night. They wore bright coats with a luminous Street Angels logo, supplied by the Maidenhead Lion’s Club.

Jeanette Lock assured that the Street Angels were there for people and that they were not Bible-bashers or evangelising, stating that they were “showing God’s love” by their actions in helping and listening to people and giving practical resources on the streets. They would pray for people and situations only if asked.

The Street Angels carried a town radio to keep themselves updated on any activities in Maidenhead. They would sometimes be contacted by the pubs and nightclubs if somebody required assistance. The Angels would carry rucksacks with a simple first-aid kick, flip-flops (primarily for women who cannot walk in high heels), sick bags for people going in taxis, space blankets, and lots of water and lollipops which were useful for diffusing situations and starting conversations.

In terms of other activities, the Street Angels:

·       Attended the Summer Festival in Kidwell’s Park,

·       Sent a team out for the Christmas Lights Switch-On,

·       Helped Windsor Street Angels at Royal Ascot,

·       Helped Reading Street Pastors at Reading Festival,

·       Attended the Lantern Parade,

·       Get involved in the Walk of Witness on Good Friday,

·       Get involved with St. Luke’s Christmas Tree Festival.

On the question of why the Street Angels would do patrols on cold, wet nights, Jeanette Lock reiterated that it was an opportunity to “share God’s love” with people they met and to let them know that they were loved.

Robyn Bunyan asked how the Street Angels had found the night-time economy Maidenhead changed, stating that there had been some change from bars and nightclubs to more dining and clientele, and whether the Street Angels’ services were still being used. Jeanette Lock confirmed that Maidenhead had changed whereby residents mostly went to the pubs and restaurants, in contrast to mostly attending the nightclubs. In spite of this, the Street Angels were kept busy with many people still going out at night. Robyn Bunyan then highlighted that there were more people living in the Town Centre, which likely lead to more people walking around the area and therefore keeping the Street Angels busy.

Councillor Reynolds asked how the Street Angels recruited new people; namely how people could get involved or whether they were recruiting, and how the Borough could persuade people to join, such as using social media. Jeanette Lock confirmed that volunteers were always needed, stating that there were some Saturday nights in which they were unable to send a team out. She elaborated that the Street Angel teams were always composed of at least three people as well as a mix of genders due to it being considered appropriate in terms of safeguarding.

Jeanette Lock then highlighted that the Street Angels had a Facebook page and an email address whereby people could contact them, adding that they did not have a website as they did not have someone to administrate it. She also believed that she was linked with the Make Maidenhead tag, in which Robyn Bunyan said she would check.

The Chair suggested that the Street Angels’ details could be added to the meeting minutes:

• Maidenhead Street Angels – Facebook
• Maidenhead Street Angels email: stangelsm@hotmail.co.uk

Councillor Douglas asked how many volunteers the Street Angels had in total and whether they came from all age groups. Jeanette Lock answered that the Street Angels had volunteers from a mix of ages, but they were mostly elderly and retried people. She added that some volunteers had been with the Street Angels since they were first established in 2011. She stated that it would be great to have more young people to join the Angels because it gave a different dynamic and that they were great at relating the people at night. She added that some young people came out on taster nights (e.g., some sixth form students recently). However, it was difficult to recruit because not many people wanted to come out on Saturday night.

Jeanette Lock informed that the Street Angels were cautious with who they recruited as volunteers, explaining that the recruitment process involved an interview process, an invite to taster nights and conducting a DBS check.

Pointing out the recent high winds, rain and cold nights with more likely to follow suit, Councillor Baskerville asked if the Street Angels had enough places to shelter homeless people. Jeanette Lock replied that the Street Angels did not have a place to take in people, all they could do was to tend and serve the people on Maidenhead’s streets by providing space blankets and sleeping bags for example. Nevertheless, the Street Angels also had information (e.g., contact numbers) for homeless people in which they could give out.

The Chair asked if there was any advice on drink spiking which people should be aware of. Jeanette Lock advised that people should not leave their drinks unattended. She also informed that the Angels raised awareness of the ‘Ask for Angela’ code-phrase, whereby a person would go to a member of staff at a bar or restaurant and then ‘ask for Angela’ if they ever felt threatened by the person they were with.

The Chair then asked if all pubs were aware of the ‘Ask for Angela’ code-phrase. Robyn Bunyan confirmed this, stating that there was a Pubwatch Team in Maidenhead. She explained that Thames Valley Police (TVP) had started to promote a new campaign, ‘Party Safe, Home Safe’, which sought to raise awareness to people on their limits, to not leave their drinks unattended, to not finish a drink if it did not taste right, to let friends know if they were separated from them in a bar, pub or nightclub, and to use licensed taxis. Alongside this, ‘Ask for Angela’ was well promoted at all venues in Maidenhead.

The Chair expressed his appreciation for Jeanette Lock for attending the Forum as well as the work of the Maidenhead Street Angels.