Paul Blakey honoured by the Queen

Halifax FGB member, Paul, aged 35, founded Street Angels in 2005 – it was an idea from God, born out of the Full Gospel‘s youth outreach in Halifax on a Saturday night in 2004, he says. The vision was prompted by the needs of large numbers of young men and women on the streets.

Paul Blakey, founder of Street Angels, has received an MBE at Buckingham Palace, for services to community safety.

 — the vision was born through FGBMFI youth outreach work.

Crime has fallen

Even the police admit that crime has fallen significantly in areas where the Street Angels operate. The pioneering project began in Halifax as a ministry of Churches Together in Halifax and the local YMCA. The initiative provides a safe place for people on the streets on Friday and Saturday between 9pm and 3am.

Based at a safe place, the Fairtrade Café, the volunteer-based project sees Street Angels visiting the streets of the town-centre looking out for people who have become vulnerable. They offer help and assistance, from directing lost people to hotels or coaches to calling for medical assistance to those who have had drinks spiked or become ill.

 A tribute to Street Angels' night-time initiatives comes from the  Archbishop of York, the Rev Dr John Sentamu, who says: ―You are working hard to help communities where you live by making the streets safer and I am extremely grateful to you for that. I pray that these initiatives continue to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Keep up the good work!

In the press, the New Year's honours story was headlined: ―Paul the angel is an MBE.

Another report described the team's work as ―angels descending on city-centre streets.