Christian Nightlife Initiatives Leadership Team
Christian Nightlife Initiatives is led jointly by Paul Blakey MBE, the Founder of Street Angels and Christian Nightlife Initiatives and Adam May, Director of Development. Both are working full time with a passion to see the charity grow and develop to make a difference in communities up and down the UK.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees is Trevor Bendrien, a businessman from Bradford (pictured in the centre with Paul - left - and Adam - right) who is passionate to see projects across the UK established and the desire to see many more people supported at night.
In a recent report published by the National Association of Chief Police Officers, Adam and Paul were highlighted as national leads in night time economy issues and voluntary street patrols. They really are experts in their field and have a proven track record!
Adam and Paul are supported by the CNI Leadership and Development Group from across the country highlighting and promoting the work CNI does. Each member of the group also has specific gifts and talents to support contribute to the wider work of the charity.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees is Trevor Bendrien, a businessman from Bradford (pictured in the centre with Paul - left - and Adam - right) who is passionate to see projects across the UK established and the desire to see many more people supported at night.
In a recent report published by the National Association of Chief Police Officers, Adam and Paul were highlighted as national leads in night time economy issues and voluntary street patrols. They really are experts in their field and have a proven track record!
Adam and Paul are supported by the CNI Leadership and Development Group from across the country highlighting and promoting the work CNI does. Each member of the group also has specific gifts and talents to support contribute to the wider work of the charity.
Paul Blakey MBE - Founder of Street Angels - Christian Nightlife Initiatives
Paul Blakey MBE is the Founder of Street Angels and Christian Nightlife Initiatives. He has a passion for social action, making the difference and getting things done!
Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Paul became a Christian at aged 14 and has engaged in several activities and projects with the aim to make a difference for the better in his local area. Organising events such as 'March for Jesus', live music festivals in Halifax Piece Hall, high class dinner events with distinguished guests, President of FGBMFI in Calderdale, large scale festivals in local parks, Paul is a great believer in Christian faith = action!
In 2005 Paul was inspired to launch his biggest project to date - Street Angels. Through fantastic teams of volunteers the project has contributed to massive crime reduction in Halifax town centre and offered help and assistance to hundreds of people and invested thousands of volunteer hours into our town. Due to the success in Halifax, Paul formed the CNI Network as a way of helping other towns set up similar projects and offer resources, help and promotion and to be a national voice for faith and community patrol and nighttime projects. Paul was awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty the Queen in 2010 for contribution to community safety in Calderdale.
Paul is happily married to Jean who partners with him on much of the work he carries out. Together they have a passion to see people living lives of full potential and communities transformed by people partnering with God to get the job done!
Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Paul became a Christian at aged 14 and has engaged in several activities and projects with the aim to make a difference for the better in his local area. Organising events such as 'March for Jesus', live music festivals in Halifax Piece Hall, high class dinner events with distinguished guests, President of FGBMFI in Calderdale, large scale festivals in local parks, Paul is a great believer in Christian faith = action!
In 2005 Paul was inspired to launch his biggest project to date - Street Angels. Through fantastic teams of volunteers the project has contributed to massive crime reduction in Halifax town centre and offered help and assistance to hundreds of people and invested thousands of volunteer hours into our town. Due to the success in Halifax, Paul formed the CNI Network as a way of helping other towns set up similar projects and offer resources, help and promotion and to be a national voice for faith and community patrol and nighttime projects. Paul was awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty the Queen in 2010 for contribution to community safety in Calderdale.
Paul is happily married to Jean who partners with him on much of the work he carries out. Together they have a passion to see people living lives of full potential and communities transformed by people partnering with God to get the job done!
Adam May, Director of Development of Street Angels - Christian Nightlife Initiatives
Adam officially began his role as Director for Development for Christian Nightlife Initiatives in January 2011. With a passion for social change, making the difference and doing it in the name of God, Adam believes this is a time of real opportunity for the Christian Church!
He is involved in looking after the day to day organisation of CNI and supporting all aspects of the work. With a passion to make sure stories are heard at all levels, Adam is out communicating the message of the charity and the projects which are associated to CNI. He can often be seen in various with a coffee in his hand with someone!
Born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, Adam became a Christian in his early years and remembers his baptism. He has engaged in several activities and projects with the aim to make a difference for the better in Middlesbrough, York, Bognor Regis and more recently in Bedford.
Directly before taking up this role, Adam had served as the Project Director for Bedford Street Angels for just over 12 months, so knows what it is like to work on the ground in the night time economy! Having relocated to Bedford from Bognor Regis, he was Director of Communications for Churches Together in Bognor Regis and District for two years before that. As part of his role in Bognor Regis, Adam was significantly involved in the work to start Arun Angels.
Adam is an academic by background having studied Theology and Religious Studies for his first degree at York St John University, undertaking two extended dissertation pieces; the first explored the context for urban ministry in the Church of England today and a second exploring how the use of the internet and social networking websites can be both a tool for Christian mission and evangelism.
Adam dislikes labels feeling himself to be a Christian first but if pushed would usually describe himself as a liberal catholic with an evangelical background, charismatic tendencies and Orthodox influences. (otherwise known as someone open to all expressions!)
Adam worships at St Paul’s Church, Bedford and Cotton End Baptist Church. He has been supporting the teaching ministry at Cotton End Baptist Church during its recent time without a Minister. Adam has a desire for local mission and putting the church at the heart of community, a message that he preaches regularly!
Adam is married to Becky, a local teacher, writer and Chair of Hope in Bedfordshire. The wedding took place on a cold, but mild December day in 2011 at Cotton End Baptist Church. The couple are expecting their first child in September.
In his spare time, Adam enjoys reading, listening to music and chatting to friends, spending time with the family as well as singing loudly in the shower! Adam and Becky have a passion to see people and communities living lives to the full and transformed partnering with God to get the job done!
He is involved in looking after the day to day organisation of CNI and supporting all aspects of the work. With a passion to make sure stories are heard at all levels, Adam is out communicating the message of the charity and the projects which are associated to CNI. He can often be seen in various with a coffee in his hand with someone!
Born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, Adam became a Christian in his early years and remembers his baptism. He has engaged in several activities and projects with the aim to make a difference for the better in Middlesbrough, York, Bognor Regis and more recently in Bedford.
Directly before taking up this role, Adam had served as the Project Director for Bedford Street Angels for just over 12 months, so knows what it is like to work on the ground in the night time economy! Having relocated to Bedford from Bognor Regis, he was Director of Communications for Churches Together in Bognor Regis and District for two years before that. As part of his role in Bognor Regis, Adam was significantly involved in the work to start Arun Angels.
Adam is an academic by background having studied Theology and Religious Studies for his first degree at York St John University, undertaking two extended dissertation pieces; the first explored the context for urban ministry in the Church of England today and a second exploring how the use of the internet and social networking websites can be both a tool for Christian mission and evangelism.
Adam dislikes labels feeling himself to be a Christian first but if pushed would usually describe himself as a liberal catholic with an evangelical background, charismatic tendencies and Orthodox influences. (otherwise known as someone open to all expressions!)
Adam worships at St Paul’s Church, Bedford and Cotton End Baptist Church. He has been supporting the teaching ministry at Cotton End Baptist Church during its recent time without a Minister. Adam has a desire for local mission and putting the church at the heart of community, a message that he preaches regularly!
Adam is married to Becky, a local teacher, writer and Chair of Hope in Bedfordshire. The wedding took place on a cold, but mild December day in 2011 at Cotton End Baptist Church. The couple are expecting their first child in September.
In his spare time, Adam enjoys reading, listening to music and chatting to friends, spending time with the family as well as singing loudly in the shower! Adam and Becky have a passion to see people and communities living lives to the full and transformed partnering with God to get the job done!
Steve Brock - Stockton Town Pastors - specialist coordinator in training and new project development:
Steve has lived in the Cleveland area for most of his life but is a born Yorkshire-man, and has been married to Hazel since 1976. They attend Stockton Baptist Tabernacle where Steve is a Deacon and Hazel runs a sewing and crafts club.
Steve was an operational police officer with Cleveland Police for 30years, before moving to the force’s audit review and inspection department in a civilian capacity. He has more recently been employed to project manage implementation of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Hartlepool, but now devotes most of his time to Stockton Town Pastors and helping other similar projects in the North East region.
He is developing an accredited core training package for all ‘street angels’ volunteers which will provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to be most effective in their work and provide them with something which will be useful for their portfolio should they seek employment.
Steve was an operational police officer with Cleveland Police for 30years, before moving to the force’s audit review and inspection department in a civilian capacity. He has more recently been employed to project manage implementation of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Hartlepool, but now devotes most of his time to Stockton Town Pastors and helping other similar projects in the North East region.
He is developing an accredited core training package for all ‘street angels’ volunteers which will provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to be most effective in their work and provide them with something which will be useful for their portfolio should they seek employment.
Sarah Digby - Watford Street Angels - specialist coordinator for young people:
Sarah was born in St Albans and has always been a Christian. She began to get more involved with Church when she was in the first year of University, and has helped with numerous children's and youth clubs, events and training days, eventually organising and leading a number of holiday programmes in her parish.
She studied Music Performance at Middlesex University, gaining a First Class Honours, and now regularly uses her performance skills in her missionary. She then went on to complete a PGCE and is now teaching in a prep school near London.
Sarah joined Watford Street Angels in April 2010, and became involved with CNI in 2010. She loves being out on the streets, meeting new people and talking to them and she certainly isn't shy about making new acquaintances (Sarah is seen here asking random people out in Halifax if she could have a photo with them and their hat!)
When asked about her faith, Sarah says that, for her, she feels it is more important to have a relationship with God than to be defined by any one set of practices, but she would classify herself as an Anglican who is happy to worship in any setting of the Church.
Sarah is passionate about the work that CNI, and its affiliates, carry out, and she will happily tell anyone, for hours, all about it; so be warned!
She studied Music Performance at Middlesex University, gaining a First Class Honours, and now regularly uses her performance skills in her missionary. She then went on to complete a PGCE and is now teaching in a prep school near London.
Sarah joined Watford Street Angels in April 2010, and became involved with CNI in 2010. She loves being out on the streets, meeting new people and talking to them and she certainly isn't shy about making new acquaintances (Sarah is seen here asking random people out in Halifax if she could have a photo with them and their hat!)
When asked about her faith, Sarah says that, for her, she feels it is more important to have a relationship with God than to be defined by any one set of practices, but she would classify herself as an Anglican who is happy to worship in any setting of the Church.
Sarah is passionate about the work that CNI, and its affiliates, carry out, and she will happily tell anyone, for hours, all about it; so be warned!
Julian Lomas, Director of Almond Tree Strategic Consulting Limited - specialist in fundraising, developing new projects and charities:
Julian Lomas started out as a research chemist before an 11 year senior-level career in public service. Since 2007 he has been a freelance consultant working with the public and third sectors on a wide range of projects including youth services, economic development, strategy and partnership development and fundraising.
Julian is a founder of Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy (including Guildford Street Angels) and of the Friends of the Anglican Church in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. He has also advised on the set-up of Street Angels in Camberley, Woking and Walton-on-Thames and supports a number of NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa.
Julian is married to an Anglican priest, has three young children and is a passionate Lancastrian exile. Apart from spending time with his family and friends, in his “spare” time Julian reads, follows most sports (particularly cricket) and enjoys good food and wine.
Julian is a founder of Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy (including Guildford Street Angels) and of the Friends of the Anglican Church in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. He has also advised on the set-up of Street Angels in Camberley, Woking and Walton-on-Thames and supports a number of NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa.
Julian is married to an Anglican priest, has three young children and is a passionate Lancastrian exile. Apart from spending time with his family and friends, in his “spare” time Julian reads, follows most sports (particularly cricket) and enjoys good food and wine.
