A NEWLY-FORMED group of guardian angels has received a cash windfall to assist with its work of helping those out in Barrow town centre at night.

A Street Angels group is being established in Barrow. The volunteers are safe people who offer street patrols in the night-time economy, looking out for those who are or could become vulnerable.

The teams offer very practical support such as first aid assistance, directions, counselling, flip-flops for girls with sore feet and reuniting friends, which contributes to a reduction in violence and anti-social behaviour.

The new venture for Furness has received a £1,000 grant from the Lake District Farmers Armstrong Family Charitable Fund, via the North-West Evening Mail.

The money was raised at an annual celebrity chef event held in Dalton, hosted and sponsored by Clarence House Country Hotel and Restaurant.

A Street Angels information evening was held in May, with police, churches and community organisations attending, resulting in many potential volunteers.

A local steering group is now formed, with Paul Blakey , the founder of Street Angels in Halifax in 2005 and now chief executive officer of CNI Network, assisting with the process. The group is looking to get up and running on the streets this summer.

Mr Blakey said the £1,000 will be used as part of the set-up costs. The group will be able to by items which will be used on the streets to benefit those the St Angels help - such as bottles of water, first aid kits, flip-flops, and lollipops. He said some of the funding will also be used for a website, information leaflets and a banner to be used as part of promotion the project.

The website will also become a point of reference to other services that can offer long-term help and assistance around the issues of those the Street Angels help, as well as a way of recruiting new volunteers.

The project has already received an offer of support towards the costs of the uniforms and with training.

Mr Blakey said: “We are very grateful for the donation. This will help start up the project in Barrow. We have had lots of potential volunteers come forward, which is absolutely amazing. People want to see a difference to the streets at night time.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Street Angel volunteer can contact Jonny Gios of HOPE Community in Cumbria on jonny @hope-community. uk , or Sophie Carnaby the Barrow Police chaplain on s. carnanby @ hotmail .co. uk.