The Village Angels: 15 years of keeping people safe
Their army of volunteers have celebrated a milestone anniversary in Manchester - and now, they're expanding to Liverpool
As you walk through Manchester's Gay Village on a Friday and Saturday night, the bright pink high-vis vests of the Village Angels are recognisable fixtures.
These volunteers, part of the LGBT Foundation initiative, ensure safety for those enjoying nights out in the area every weekend until 3am.
Now, they've just marked an incredible anniversary.
Ensuring Safe Nights Out
Over the past 15 years, the Angels have become a vital presence, offering support in various situations, including spiking incidents, mental health needs, or simply providing directions.
In the last six months alone, they've assisted 350 individuals in getting home safely and interacted with over 10,000 people.
The Angels are mostly volunteers, including members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, equipped with skills such as first aid and mental health crisis support.
They also work closely with emergency services, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and venue staff, making their iconic pink vests as essential as the venues themselves.
'It's super special'
Alejandro Flores is a Community Officer at the LGBT Foundation, and has been speaking to Hits Radio Pride - explaining how their dedication, giving up their weekends to help the thousands who descend on The Village, makes a real difference.
They said: "It's a super special moment for a really special group of people.
"Whenever I'm out with the angels at night, we have so many people coming up to us, thanking us for what we do, and many of them either have had a personal experience with us, or know someone who has.
"And it's funny, since we've recently celebrated our 15 years, we've heard loads of stories from people who remember when it all started, and it's great to know that people have been loving us for the whole of that time.
"Because we have such a variety of volunteers, they all bring with them different skills, experiences, and backgrounds which is also really important.
"We have some who are trained therapists, trained psychologists, first aiders, mental health first aiders...
"Those skills and how we represent the wider community who come to Canal Street matter a lot.
"And the message is, if you need anything when out and about in The Village, come and find us.
"And if you can't, just ask the door staff at the clubs, and they'll radio us.
"The venues know who we are, and they know the difference we make - and it's this collaboration with the clubs, as well as the emergency services, which helps relieve the pressure on them on busy nights out."
To thank the volunteers for their hard work, they're always given a tasty treat from Canal Street - as Alejandro attests to.
They added: "The volunteers get food and travel provided, as well as events and award shows.
"They also get things like first aid training, too.
"If you wanted to know about the food, well, it's provided by the Village Chip Shop, right next to our Haven base - and I have to say, it's pretty decent!"
Expansion into Liverpool
It's not just in Manchester, though, as the LGBT Foundation recently announced the Village Angels programme has now expanded into Liverpool city centre, following a successful eight week trial.
Their Liverpool-based volunteers support LGBTQ+ people on Mathew Street, the Cavern Quarter and Victoria Street between 9pm and 3.30am - and like their Mancunian counterparts, they'll be wearing the iconic pink high-vis if you need a quick chat or more help.
It's thanks to a partnership between LGBT Foundation, Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council, and Liverpool BID Company.
Alejandro told us: "It's great to see this roll-out after the trial, and it's only happened because of the funding and the support from the likes of the police and the council.
"But there are some differences between Manchester and Liverpool - the main one being is that Liverpool doesn't have a Haven base, like Manchester does.
"The LGBT venues in the city are also a little more spread out, it's not quite like Manchester, which has the Village, for instance.
"That's great, though, because we do inevitably end up helping people who aren't part of the LGBT+ community as well.
"Even in Manchester, we're there to help everyone, and Liverpool has just gone to show that further."
Where to Find Support
Angels are present every Friday and Saturday night until 3am around the Village and they also have the Village Haven on Bloom Street, available for those in need of assistance and support from an Angel.
Manchester's Angels contribute significantly to the community, ensuring that celebrants can enjoy queer joy without worry.
If support is needed during a night out in Manchester's Gay Village, finding an Angel is as simple as spotting their bright pink vests.
You can find out more about becoming a volunteer on the LGBT Foundation website.