Street Angels Chester has received the unanimous support of Chester’s Purple Flag group to continue to grow its work in the city centre to help people in the evening and night-time.

This comes after an independent evaluation by the University of Chester of the Safer Streets funded pilot service which completed earlier in the year.

Street Angels is a churches-led voluntary service which has a presence in the city centre in teams of three or four to prevent, reduce the risk of, and help deal with the aftermath of health harms, crime and anti-social behaviour. It works alongside licence holders, police, NHS and other specialist services to signpost and practically help people in need.

Hitched Communities, along with Vineyard53 and other partners, has been instrumental in leading and co-designing this initiative through match-funding and strategic support. Gary Wootten, one of Hitched Communities’ founders and the project lead for Street Angels, shared his excitement about the project’s success and future growth.

Project lead, Gary Wootten, said: “We’ve had a really positive time as a growing team of volunteers going out on shift over the weeks. You never know what the night will bring. Most people are out for a great night out, but we find ourselves helping people in all kinds of ways. We certainly feel appreciated on the streets, so we’re delighted to get the green light to try to grow what we’re doing and make this a permanent service.”

After reviewing 20 shift reports, video diaries, and a stakeholder survey, the University of Chester evaluation recognized the potential benefits of a longer-term street team presence for the evening and night-time. It recommended Street Angels seek funding to grow from offering the service on a Friday to also include Saturdays and special events, such as race days and seasonal festivals. It also recommended continuing to build existing partnerships such as with licence holders, police, NHS, and the council.

Dr. Kim Ross, who led the evaluation, said: “The report explores the current work of Street Angels and highlights the range of the work that they do, from collecting broken glass and handing out bottles of water to offering support to those who are vulnerable. The report considers the potential impact that Street Angels have had and could have if the work is to continue.”

Councillor Christine Warner, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning, and Safer Communities, said: “Thanks to the Street Angels, our hospitality businesses, and the many agencies and volunteers who are working so well together to keep the city safe and welcoming.”

“Chester can only continue our Purple Flag status thanks to the many city centre partners working together to ensure Chester remains safe and welcoming.”

Pubwatch Chair, Jenni Storey, said: “Street Angels plays a huge and vital role in Chester’s night-time economy. Knowing they’re out on patrol and available to help takes so much pressure off the bar staff, door teams, and emergency services. The more help and support the Street Angels get, the more they can grow to provide an extended service over the weekends, race days, and other periods when we need them the most.”

Canon Ecumenical at Chester Cathedral and LinkUp Trustee, Andy Glover, said: “It has been amazing to see the Street Angels project grow in Chester. We are excited to take an active part as a network of various churches throughout the city-region, helping Street Angels reach its full potential and to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways.”

Since the start of May, Street Angels has sent out volunteer teams on Fridays, Saturdays, and on race days. You can find the full evaluation report at Street Angels Chester News.