The amazing volunteer team of Street Angels completed their 100th patrol in early May. Watch the Instagram reel to follow them on a patrol.
Operating on a Friday night between 10pm and 3am, the Street Angels are a team of dedicated volunteers who offer support to anyone in need from lone individuals to those who are vulnerable through intoxication, rough sleeping or personal crisis. Armed with lollipops, bottles of water, space blankets and most importantly a calming, non-judgmental presence, the Angels have become a familiar sight for many late night revellers and businesses.
Throughout their second year of patrols, Putney Street Angels continued to strengthen its presence within the night-time economy, supporting vulnerable individuals, working alongside venues and emergency services and helping to maintain a safer and more welcoming environment across Putney.
In this last year the Street Angels recorded almost 300 direct interactions with members of the public, alongside hundreds of welfare, environmental and safeguarding interventions. A significant increase was seen in support provided to vulnerable and lone women, compliments from members of the public and venue staff, and wider engagement with local businesses and the community.
Volunteers also responded to a growing complexity of rough sleeping related concerns, regularly engaging with known rough sleepers, making StreetLink referrals and signposting individuals to support services.
Environmental impact remained a key part of patrol activity, with volunteers clearing 646 bottles and removing broken glass on 52 occasions, helping reduce hazards in the town centre during peak night-time hours.
Patrol reports also demonstrate the increasingly valued role of Street Angels within Putney’s wider night-time safety network, with teams frequently supporting intoxicated individuals, de-escalating tensions, assisting venues and liaising with police, ambulance services and local security teams where required.
Special thanks go to McDonald’s on Putney High Street who generously fuel the Angels each night with a midnight meal — a gesture much appreciated by the team.
Supported by Positively Putney BID, which provides the equipment, facilities and training necessary to operate safely, the volunteers embody the BID’s mission to make Putney a welcoming and caring town centre.
Looking ahead, Putney Street Angels hopes to expand patrols to both Friday and Saturday nights but to do so we need more volunteers. Many of our current volunteers are Christian but that is not a pre-requisite, volunteers need to be 18 years or over, able to work in a team of three to five people, available to go out at night on a regular basis, ideally at least monthly, good at chatting to strangers and happy to clean up glass bottles! All volunteers undergo a DBS check, are provided with training and uniform to wear whilst on patrol.
If you would like to be part of this lifechanging work — making Putney safer, kinder and more connected — please get in touch:
