While many people spend their Friday and Saturday nights enjoying the nightlife in cities, one group is on the streets for a different reason – to protect women.

Two years ago a series of sexual assaults were reported in Stroud, Gloucestershire, arouse fear and anxiety.

The incidents prompted local woman Chrissie Lowery to launch Night Angels.

The 54-year-old entrepreneur is familiar with violence against women and girls, having worked as a clinical nurse specialist and being a survivor herself.

Her daughter also told of a “really terrifying” experience of being followed through the city.

After the Stroud attacks, Gloucestershire Police admitted that needed to do more to protect women and girls and began by organizing a public meeting in August 2022 to discuss “the number of horrific horrific rapes, sexual assaults and inappropriate behavior” recorded in the previous months.

It was attended by more than 200 people – about 90% of them women.

Shortly after the meeting, Ms. Lowery created the Safe Space schemewhich enables women and girls to take refuge and seek help – whether it’s a phone call to the police, a lift home or a cup of tea.

Shops, businesses and pubs around Stroud supported the idea and started displaying Safe Space stickers in their windows to show people in need where they could find refuge.

The system’s website also displays a map that directs users to their nearest location.

Since its inception, around 700 safe spaces – including trains and buses – have been created across Stroud and Gloucester.

“It’s a truly community-based service. It’s collaborative and it’s really well received,” Lowery said.

She said she hopes to continue to grow the scheme, with Swindon in Wiltshire as the next target.

Since December 2023, Ms Lowery has spent her Friday and Saturday nights with her fellow Night Angles, patrolling the streets in groups of six in their pink high-vis waistcoats and matching hats.

Ms Lowery said: “I thought I could do it – it’s something I wanted to do, and it was on my agenda.

“Five days later we had a group of women out patrolling the city and I was one of them.”

All Night Angels are DBS checked and trained in first aid, CPR, defibrillators, de-escalation, negotiation, domestic violence, protection and mental health.

The group is supported by Gloucestershire Police and the local council.

The Angels are equipped with backpacks that contain things like first aid kits, water, clubs and blankets. They also offer emotional and psychological support and lift home when needed.

“We go out and find people who need us and some will approach us — we’re very pink and easy to identify,” Lowery said.

“We’ve taken some people home because they’re concussed, we’ve taken people to hospitals and we’ve taken people to mental health facilities.

“No two nights are the same.”

In total, it is about 80 angels, divided between one team in Stroud and two in Gloucester. So far, the group says, they have assisted in 165 different incidents.

The Angels are based at Bright House in King’s Walk Shopping Centre, Gloucester, which also doubles as a safe space.

“Strausa women actually tell us ‘we’re so glad you guys are out there keeping us safe, we feel like we can go out, we felt vulnerable here because of everything that’s been going on,’ so that’s really good,” says she said Lowery.

Although other security systems such as Ask for Angela exist, Lowery said the night angels’ accessibility sets them apart.

“We’ve had people report to us that they’ve asked for Angela and been told ‘she doesn’t work here’.

“There can be a high turnover (of staff) in hospitality and you have to train each individual.

“There aren’t people like us out on the street for women,” she added.

Ms Lowery hopes the program can grow and spread across the country, but is relying on more women join the team.

Over the past two years Ms Lowery has been recognized for her work.

In 2022 she was invited to Downing Street as a social activist.

Last year she participated in the Parliament for International Women’s Day.

“It makes you feel proud and like you’re actually doing something right,” she said.

“I don’t really think about it that much though – I’m more focused on trying to get what I’m doing where I want it to be.

“I want a sanctuary one day,” she added.

Ms Lowery said that “absolutely not” enough is being done to protect women and girls from violence, abuse and harassment.

“There are simply not enough services.

“A lot of attitudes have to change, education has to change and it goes back years, but I think some people are changing.

“People are calling it out more now, and I think social media is really helping.”

She encouraged any woman or girl who is struggling to “reach out.”

“Go get help. Tell a friend, talk about it and get out if you can.”