Street Angels appoints new project head

Bedford Street Angels Committee has appointed its first Project Coordinator.

Adam May shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the project as it seeks to develop its work as a presence on the streets.

There are well over 100 such schemes across the UK. All of them have teams of volunteers from various types of local churches and have seen success in reducing violence, antisocial behaviour and fear of crime in their communities.

In Bedford the project operates each weekend between 10pm on a Saturday night and 3am on Sunday morning to offer a listening ear and practical support to those most in need.

Mr May has recently moved from his position as communications officer for Churches Together in Bognor Regis and District, which covers 22 churches and Christian groups.

He brings experience of having been directly involved in the Arun Angels Project, the equivalent project in Bognor Regis.

The project seeks to work in partnership with other organizations within the town such as Beds:safe, the Bedford Police Authority and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

Mr May said: "I am looking forward to taking on the joys and challenges as project coordinator for Street Angels here in Bedford.

"The work that Street Angels has done nationally has been well received and I hope and pray that much of the good practice of other projects can be adopted in our own town as we seek to grow and develop.

"As a faith based project, we seek to offer a Christian framework to support anyone who approaches us. Our work is not to convert people to our point of view but to share our common humanity.

"The project demonstrates real Christian love in action. It can be hard work at times but I look forward to seeing Bedford Street Angels as a familiar sight in our town."

Project coordinator of Beds:safe, Frank Fender, said: "Bedford Street Angels have been a welcomed addition to the town centre on Saturday nights.

"The enthusiasm and commitment of the Street Angels compliments the actions already undertaken by the various partners involved in the Beds:Safe initiative and I look forward to seeing this work progress further to make Bedford an even safer place."

■ For further information on the project or to discuss recruitment, please contact Adam May on 07595 703833 or by email , or logging onto the website