What Do People Say About Street Pastors?

“The excellent work the Street Pastors undertake in the centre of Wolverhampton at weekends, has helped bring greater reassurance and peace to our city streets and I am very proud to be involved in supporting such a positive initiative to help make the city a nicer place to visit.”

Cllr John Pask, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods & Community Safety – Conservative Councillor for Merry Hill Ward
15 July 2009

"The Wolverhampton Keep It Safe campaign was enormously successful and this was entirely due to Wolverhampton's public agencies, private sector companies and voluntary organisations having the will to work together - and to make it happen.

The dramatic impact the campaign had in reducing violent crime, particularly in the City Centre was heavily influenced by the number of highly visible personnel we had patrolling the Streets; the Wolverhampton street Pastors played a pivotal role in this. The Street Pastors roamed the streets offering help, advice and when needed a pair of Keep It Safe 'flip flops'. The Street Pastors were always on hand to escort revellers to our Safe Havens or when medical attention was needed to the Keep It Safe - Medical Centre. In recognition of their support and ongoing work the Wolverhampton Street Pastors represented the voluntary sector at the recent national CMO Public Health Awards ceremony, at which the Wolverhampton Keep It safe Campaign was one on 7 finalists from over 140 entries.

The Wolverhampton Street Pastors played a vital part in the Keep It Safe campaign - its been a real pleasure working with the Street Pastors and we hope to be working with them again in the future."

Ros Jervis
Consultant in Public Health
Wolverhampton City PCT
16 July 2009

Wonderers

The Online Home for Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries

Street Pastors

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Street Pastors are multi-denominational, and are the churches response to neighbourhood problems. Street Pastors was initially formed in 2003 by Reverend Les Isaac, and are funded by Ascension Trust. The aims are to re-engage with the community, and provide a continuous visible and approachable presence on the streets. Street Pastors work in partnership with various governing bodies, and encourages working as part of the ‘Urban Trinity’ the church, voluntary organisations, the government and the Police in the hope to all participate to achieve a better quality of life. A Street Pastor is a church leader, minister or member who shares a concern for society, whereby the invitation there is to encourage people from right across the Christian faith, and can be anyone. The general criteria of becoming a street pastor are: A) the Individual has to be 18 years old or over. B) Has been committed to a Christian fellowship for a year. C) is able obtain a positive reference from their Church Minister. Click here to see a brief video history of the Street Pastors.

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Our committee group have since gained interest from many outside bodies who are in support of the initiative, and have made the involvement of the Local police and council possible, ensuring our progression.

The original 16 Street Pastors have now been out on patrol since October 2008. We are now hoping to recruit 20 more to enable us to get out twice a week in the city centre and beyond. NEW TRAINING STARTS SOON - please email wolverhampton@streetpastors.org.uk for more details.

Wolverhampton Street Pastors delivers an intensive training package, which is both exciting and fun, and through the process equips each member fully for engaging people on the street. Feel free to view the videos below to get a better idea of what the Street Pastors do.

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Getting Involved
On 24 Oct 2008 the first Street Pastors graduated and went straight out onto the streets of Wolverhampton, going into pubs, clubs and takeaway stores and chatting to everyone around. After a year of doing Prayer Patrol this team was very well received with many bouncers and cafe owners very used to seeing us. One chip shop offered the whole team a round of drinks!

You could be on the next training course and help us be out two nights a week increasing the peace in Wolverhampton. You will need to attend 80% of sessions to be a Street Pastor, but if you are unable to attend any session a parallel course is being run in Aston on a Thursday night, so please do let us know in advance if you would like to go there to attend a specific session. For more details about becoming a Street Pastor, please email wolverhampton@streetpastors.org.uk for more details.

You can also come out on Prayer Patrol and give out water outside a nightclub or as a Street Pastor observer to see if it’s the right thing for you. All Street Pastors need a reference from the vicar/minister of their church and to undergo an enhanced disclosure CRB check.

Come along & prayer for Wolverhampton Street Pastors & the City. The first Friday of every month between 8 and 10pm at St Peter’s House (top flat) 4 Exchange Street, Wolverhampton (across from St Peter’s Church)
Dates: 5 February, 5 March, 2 April, 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 3 September, 1 October, 5 November, 3 December