Leeds Street Angels on hand to help Mad Friday revellers

Volunteers who patrol Leeds city centre to help keep revellers safe will be out on the streets later for the first of two '˜Mad Friday' nights.
Leeds Street Angels volunteers will be out in the city to help revellers enjoy a safe night out. Picture: Charlotte Graham/GuzelianLeeds Street Angels volunteers will be out in the city to help revellers enjoy a safe night out. Picture: Charlotte Graham/Guzelian
Leeds Street Angels volunteers will be out in the city to help revellers enjoy a safe night out. Picture: Charlotte Graham/Guzelian

But with Christmas Day falling on a Monday this year, many pubs and clubs are planning for an influx of people on both December 15 and December 22.

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While the festivities are generally good natured, the emergency services and other support organisations usually find themselves dealing with a higher number of incidents than on an average Friday night.

Leeds Street Angels and Leeds Club Angels volunteers aim to help ease the pressure by offering first aid, walking people to taxis and even providing flip flops for aching feet.

Paul Blakey MBE, founder of Street Angels and chief executive of the Christian Nightlife Initiatives Network, said: “Our teams of volunteers do amazing work throughout the year, but Christmas is one of our busiest times.

“People who aren’t familiar with town and city centres at night are out on office night’s out and it is easy to become separated from your group or want to call it a night when others want to carry on.

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“Our teams of Angels will be on hand and available to those who need support such as flip-flops, walking to the taxi, first aid or simply a friendly face to chat with.”

The network’s volunteers will be running patrols in around 130 communities nationwide on Mad Friday this year to make sure as many people enjoy a safe night out.

Its regular locations in West Yorkshire include in Leeds, Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax and Huddersfield.