Night out Guardians receive King's Award

Gill Goodship said the volunteers have stopped potential serious incidents developing

A charity that supports vulnerable people on nights out has received a King's Award for Voluntary Service.

The Northampton Guardians were set up in memory of India Chipchase, who was killed in the town in 2016.

Every Friday and Saturday night the group patrols on foot to relieve stress on emergency services and intervene when lone women could be in a dangerous situation.

Trustee Gill Goodship said that although they observe "sexual predatory behaviour pretty much every weekend" she noted the award was "such an honour".

The group patrols Northampton on Friday and Saturday nights

On the King's birthday it was announced there would be 231 recipients of The King's Award Voluntary Service - from across the UK and Channel Islands.

It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

Ms Goodship explained: "The volunteers that come out every weekend, regardless of what the weather's like, don't do it for thank you's or recognition or awards.

"It is such an honour to get that award and we're really excited about it".

Darren Craven said the group provided safety for people "even if it's just to wait for a taxi or to charge their phones"

The charity estimates that since it started in December 2021 it has helped more than 3,000 people.

As well as patrols, the group also has a van and static base at All Saints Church.

Trustee Darren Craven explained: "Drunk people, injured people - we deal with all those types of incidents on a Friday and Saturday evening.

"It's relieved a lot of stress from the local police and local ambulance crews because we've taken away the pressure that they would have once had."

Volunteers walk people to taxis, offer bottles of water and provide power for phone charging.

Ms Goodship said: "Incidents range from something very trivial like helping someone get a taxi to helping a female who was being encouraged to get into a car by a stranger which she thought was a taxi which wasn't.

"So we've stopped serious incidents like that developing as well."