Boro Angels seek a helping hand from lottery players

Keen Middlesbrough clubbers will have encountered the Boro Angels on a night out in the town centre.

Established in 2010, the group of volunteers shows up every weekend to watch over vulnerable drinkers.

And now they need your help.

The local charity is entirely run by unpaid volunteers. They need a constant funding stream in order to continue delivering their services, and they’ve joined the Middlesbrough Lottery to raise these funds.

Boro Angels are well-known for being a first point of call for distressed clubbers. They deliver mental and physical first aid, hand out hot drinks, flip-flops, lollipops and bottles of water, and pick up glasses from the streets. Money raised from the Middlesbrough Lottery will be spent on replenishing their supplies, putting their volunteers through emergency first aid and conflict management training (which they’re all put through), and paying rent on their ‘base’.

Acting Chair of Boro Angels, Alma Dennison, said: “We’re a safety net trusted by young people who come to us for help.

“On nights out people become separated from their friends, and we work in partnership with other organisations to ensure people enjoying themselves in Middlesbrough are cared for throughout the night, and get home safely at the end of it.

“Parents have thanked us for staying with their child before they could come and collect them, and people have come over and hugged us months after we’ve helped them.

“Being appreciated gives all our volunteers pride. There’s nothing better than going home knowing you really helped someone that night.”

Extra funding ensures Boro Angels can continue to deliver their vital services to people partying in Middlesbrough. It’s been proven that Street Angels projects like Boro Angels reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in town centres across the country. A thriving Boro Angels service means that Middlesbrough town centre will stay thriving, too.

Middlesbrough charities needing an extra funding stream can sign up to the Middlesbrough Lottery today. It’s free to sign up and it’s a quick and easy process. Just visit the ‘Are you a good cause?’ section of the website to get started.