University Gives Guildford Street Angels £1,000 to Help Costs of Night Patrols

Published on: 24 Nov, 2020
Updated on: 26 Nov, 2020

Guildford Street Angels patrolling on Guildford High Street before the Covid-19 pandemic Photo: Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy

The University of Surrey is donating £1,000 to Guildford Street Angels to help cover the charity’s costs of its Friday and Saturday night patrols.

Its volunteers have been patrolling Guildford town centre late on weekends nights since 2008, watching, listening, caring and helping vulnerable people. Street Angels make a major contribution to ensuring the welfare of people on the streets of Guildford at night, including many students.

Police Inspector James Wyatt, the borough commander, said: “Guildford’s Street Angels make an enormous contribution to our community. We’re hugely grateful for their assistance in caring for and protecting the residents of Guildford.

“We’ve worked closely with them over the years where they’ve provided invaluable support, often de-escalating potentially harmful situations. I thank everyone at the Guildford Street Angels for their ongoing hard work and support.”

Nikki Dormon, public engagement manager at the university, said: “We are delighted to be able to support and work collaboratively with the Street Angels again this year.

“Students, as well as many other members of our community, benefit from the care and support offered by their patrols, and we really value being able to work closely with the Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy and the rest of the team.

Guildford Street Angels helping some a little “worse for ware”

“Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority and the Street Angels programme, alongside our own Street Marshals initiative, helps us to achieve this.”

The Revd Noelle Coe, Guildford town chaplain, said: “The chaplaincy is thrilled and most grateful to receive this on-going support for our Street Angel project. Many of the people we help are students, so we are pleased to be working with the university to help care for them.

“Street Angels are respected in our town, there to assist people of any age in need, which is particularly valued at the end of the night, encouraging people to disperse quietly and get home safely.

“The Angels work closely with police, providing additional eyes and ears, helping to avoid conflict and reducing pressure on the emergency services.”