Jane McGowan meets Noelle Coe chaplain of the Guildford Street Angels to find out just how a pair of flip flops, a kind word and tin-foil blanket can keep you safe on a Saturday night...
Who would have a thought offering someone a lollipop at three o’clock on a Sunday morning could potentially stop a public order offence being committed. No, me neither. But we would be wrong.
“It just totally diffuses the situation,” says Noelle Coe, chaplain and co-ordinator of the Guildford Street Angels, a team of volunteers on hand every weekend to help those Surrey residents whose revels have left them feeling a little worse for wear.
“People are a little taken back and it’s hard to be aggressive when you are holding or sucking a red, yellow or orange lollipop,” she laughs. “In fact, people have often calmed down in the time it takes to get the sticky wrapper off. Usually they will start chatting about what their favourite flavours were and who used to buy them for them. A lolly really does seem to help.”
Launched 15 years ago, the Guildford Street Angels are there not to interfere with the business of partying but to ensure everyone enjoys a peaceful end to the proceedings. The 50 or so volunteers work on a rota covering mainly Friday and Saturday nights. While some of the helpers are connected to a church, there are, as Noelle points out, “no strings attached - we are just there to offer assistance, a friendly ear when necessary and a safe point of contact.”
Armed with a high-vis jacket and a rucksack filled with flip flops – “You would be surprised how many people lose their shoes – or one of them – during a night out”, explains Noelle, phone chargers, a dustpan and brush – “In case there is broken glass” – tin-foil blankets – “Sometimes people are not wearing a lot and it can get very cold” - the aforementioned lollipops and of course, sick bags, the pairs of volunteers head out from 10.30pm, relinquishing their posts at around 4am.
“We have to be prepared for all eventualities,” says Noelle. “More often than not people are just a little bit confused. A quick chat, some water and help to find a taxi, will be enough. But if you are separated from your friends and have no means of getting home - you may have lost your phone, missed the last train, people can begin to panic and can get quite distressed. They can also become vulnerable very quickly and this is one of the things we are there to prevent.”
According to Noelle, since the arrival of the Guildford team, calls to the emergency services have fallen by a third.
“We are not threatening in any way and we have time to talk to people. We go for a little walk with them and during that time they usually start to sober up. We can then find them a taxi and off they go. We are not part of law enforcement in the town and we are definitely not there to break up fights. Obviously if someone needs more help then we will get assistance and we will stay with them until that help arrives. We will listen though and there is never any judgement metered out.”
Although Noelle says recruitment suffered as a result of Covid-19, volunteers currently number around 50 and they are asked to cover one night every four weeks. The Street Angels are part of the Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy that also comprises the Community Angels (a befriending scheme) and volunteer chaplains. A similar Street Angels scheme runs just down the road in Woking.
There are not too many formal requirements to be part of the team, although you must be over 18 and DBS checked. Prospective angels are interviewed before receiving training – including sessions with Surrey Police - to prepare them for the role.
“Everyone gets a trial night and if it is not for them, then that is okay,” says Noelle. “We try to prepare people via the training but it does take a little getting used to. There is nothing too shocking - this is Guildford after all. It’s actually the weather that can be the trickiest thing to deal with. Rainy winter nights are not that pleasant, I will admit that.”
The team is made up of a wide range of people from university students and former nurses to more mature residents who always get a warm reception from the revellers.
“We had a retired teacher with us and many former pupils would recognise her and would shout – ‘Isn’t it a bit late for you miss?’ Most of them wanted selfies with her so that was great fun.”
The volunteers work closely with the police and ambulance who are always on hand should they be required.
“We are all part of the Guildford community and we all want the same thing to make sure everyone has a safe and happy evening. In that way the residents, venue owners and emergency services all benefit.”
To find out more, visit: gtcc.org.uk
