Community Angels take flight in Charminster

I joined The Community Angels on patrol in Charminster, Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago to see what they get up to. pic.twitter.com/8QWfmJ6RrY

— Frankie Barron (@francescerr) March 5, 2019

Friday at 7:30pm friends, family and members of St. Francis of Assisi church put on their ‘Community Angels’ Hi-Vis jackets and meet for their weekly patrol along Charminster high-street.

They pack their bags with gloves and hats for rough sleepers, a dust-pan and brush to sweep the streets of broken glass, a first aid kit, water and other necessities.

A typical night out on patrol with the Community Angels starts at The Fiveways pub and the volunteers will walk along to the Cemetery and up and down again keeping an eye out for the locals.

Alan Lilywhite helped to set up the scheme which started on 14^thDecember 2018, after liaising with local Police. The team started with few members, but Alan is now “delighted to have 14 angels.”

The Community Angels are trained using activities approved by Dorset Police which include role play and first aid. They also get trained in dealing with suicides.

Last Friday, Jenny Nightingale the Vicar of St. Francis of Assisi came across a rough sleeper outside ‘Co-op’ and they got talking. Jenny offered him a winter hat and he told her about his musical talents. He was a pianist and organist, Jenny explained that the church has been looking for an organist and they exchanged details so that he could audition for the paid role. Jenny said: “I asked God for one and one has been given to me.”