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Preacher Man who is a street pastor
On hand to support night-time revellers
By Andrew Ffrench »
CHURCH volunteers in Wallingford are preparing to go out on the streets to help drunken night-time revellers.
Street Pastors team aims to bring 'calm'
In October, Churches Together Wallingford had the idea of starting a Street Pastors team after a similar group of volunteers in Wantage celebrated their first anniversary.
Now they have gathered a team of about 20 volunteers and held their official launch at St Mary’s Church in Market Place on Monday.
The scheme, which is expected to go live mid-July, has the support of Thames Valley Police, South Oxfordshire District Council and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.
Neville Burt, 65, co-ordinator of the pastors scheme, and chairman of Churches Together Wallingford, said the volunteers met organisers from the Ascension Trust, the governing body for street pastor schemes, on Monday night.
He said: “We have been given a grant of £3,000 from SODC and have had donations from churches in the town, so we now have raised £8,000 in preparation for our launch.
“Training will soon get under way for 20 people and we have 19 on the list already.
“If there are girls out at night stumbling on their high heels we will be there to offer them flip-flops and our support. We hope to be a calming influence and we have the full support of the police.
“They are glad we are doing this and Inspector Nicholas Cain, who is based at Didcot police station, has agreed to work with us.”
Mr Burt said the volunteers would initially work every Friday night between about 10pm and 2am.
He said: “Key areas include the Market Place, near Wallingford bridge, and the area near the Esso garage on Wantage Road.
“The nights are lighter at this time of year and the schools are out, so it’s a good time to launch.”
Insp Cain said: “This is immensely positive news for Wallingford and Thames Valley Police fully supports the initiative.
“It is great to have some additional eyes and ears out there to help people who may be vulnerable.” In a letter to Churches Together Wallingford, Mr Vaizey said: “I would like to congratulate those who, over the last 12 months, have worked diligently through the process of inspiring the churches and raising funds to implement the Street Pastor scheme in Wallingford to the point where it is now ready to launch.
“I understand that considerable helpful advice has been passed on to Wallingford by the Wantage team, that talks have taken place with Churches Together in Didcot about a possible scheme there, and that a scheme has been recently launched in Abingdon. I would encourage these teams to form close links for mutual support and to share experience and training.”
Wallingford mayor Colin Dolton said: “I have heard that the Street Pastors have been a positive influence in other Oxfordshire towns.
“I hope the Street Pastors in Wallingford will have a positive effect on all the people they speak to, particularly under-age drinkers.
“I gather the intention of the team is not to preach religion, but to offer support.”
In its first year, Wantage’s Street Pastor team helped 3,800 people during nights out.
Churches Together Wallingford unites 13 churches.
Preacher Man who is a street pastor
On hand to support night-time revellers
By Andrew Ffrench »
CHURCH volunteers in Wallingford are preparing to go out on the streets to help drunken night-time revellers.
Street Pastors team aims to bring 'calm'
In October, Churches Together Wallingford had the idea of starting a Street Pastors team after a similar group of volunteers in Wantage celebrated their first anniversary.
Now they have gathered a team of about 20 volunteers and held their official launch at St Mary’s Church in Market Place on Monday.
The scheme, which is expected to go live mid-July, has the support of Thames Valley Police, South Oxfordshire District Council and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.
Neville Burt, 65, co-ordinator of the pastors scheme, and chairman of Churches Together Wallingford, said the volunteers met organisers from the Ascension Trust, the governing body for street pastor schemes, on Monday night.
He said: “We have been given a grant of £3,000 from SODC and have had donations from churches in the town, so we now have raised £8,000 in preparation for our launch.
“Training will soon get under way for 20 people and we have 19 on the list already.
“If there are girls out at night stumbling on their high heels we will be there to offer them flip-flops and our support. We hope to be a calming influence and we have the full support of the police.
“They are glad we are doing this and Inspector Nicholas Cain, who is based at Didcot police station, has agreed to work with us.”
Mr Burt said the volunteers would initially work every Friday night between about 10pm and 2am.
He said: “Key areas include the Market Place, near Wallingford bridge, and the area near the Esso garage on Wantage Road.
“The nights are lighter at this time of year and the schools are out, so it’s a good time to launch.”
Insp Cain said: “This is immensely positive news for Wallingford and Thames Valley Police fully supports the initiative.
“It is great to have some additional eyes and ears out there to help people who may be vulnerable.” In a letter to Churches Together Wallingford, Mr Vaizey said: “I would like to congratulate those who, over the last 12 months, have worked diligently through the process of inspiring the churches and raising funds to implement the Street Pastor scheme in Wallingford to the point where it is now ready to launch.
“I understand that considerable helpful advice has been passed on to Wallingford by the Wantage team, that talks have taken place with Churches Together in Didcot about a possible scheme there, and that a scheme has been recently launched in Abingdon. I would encourage these teams to form close links for mutual support and to share experience and training.”
Wallingford mayor Colin Dolton said: “I have heard that the Street Pastors have been a positive influence in other Oxfordshire towns.
“I hope the Street Pastors in Wallingford will have a positive effect on all the people they speak to, particularly under-age drinkers.
“I gather the intention of the team is not to preach religion, but to offer support.”
In its first year, Wantage’s Street Pastor team helped 3,800 people during nights out.
Churches Together Wallingford unites 13 churches.
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