We don't evangelise; we seek to engage with people on the streets to care for them, listen to them and help them, whoever they are, whatever their backstory. Coventry Street Pastors Initiative has now been licensed by Ascension Trust (the governing charity based in London) having first sent their Development Manager to meet with Coventry Church representatives, Coventry Police & Council representatives, at a meeting held in Coventry Council offices on the 27th May 2015. A Street Pastor recruiting drive will now take place during September – December (presentations at Coventry Churches’ Sunday morning services) will endeavour to sign up 32 Street Pastor recruits to enable patrols (teams consisting of 4 x SPs) to take place every Friday and Saturday night around the City Centre pubs and clubs, once they have undergone their Ascension Trust training and attended their Commissioning Service (expected to be sometime in May 2016). The role of a Street Pastor is not about preaching, but one of caring, listening and helping - working in an unconditional way. People in Coventry will quickly (as they do in other towns and Cities) get to know that the Church is there for them in a practical way. Whether Street Pastors are pointing people in the right direction, persuading someone not to do something, providing emergency first aid, giving out flip-flops and lollies, or just being a shoulder to cry on, they practically demonstrate the Christian ethos of caring for one another.....not just to one another in their respective church congregations, but to the wider community – the Cities, Towns and villages where they live and work. Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. Street Pastors was started in 2003 by Rev Les Isaac OBE, Ascension Trust CEO, and is overseen and managed by Ascension Trust, registered charity no. 1127204. There are currently over 280 Street Pastor groups across the UK and worldwide, with over 13,000 Street Pastors operating on Britain’s streets. Volunteers are over 18 (there is no upper age limit), active church members and willing to complete a challenging programme of training including sessions on youth culture, drugs and knowing your community. A DBS check is required and references are obtained before SPs join a team of at least four people, each of whom will work a minimum of one night a month, usually on Fridays & Saturdays from 10pm to around 4am. A distinctive uniform is worn when on patrol and all are unpaid volunteers! Councils & Police forces across the UK have welcomed the development of Street Pastor teams which have contributed to a significant reduction in crime levels, sometimes dramatically. Week in and week out, Christians are demonstrating that they really do care about the local community in which they live. The govt’s initiative - THE BIG SOCIETY is something the churches across the UK have been doing for many, many years, whether through Drop In Centres for the homeless, Soup kitchens, Running Activities in church Community Centres or as now - STREET PASTORS. To provide maximum publicity and an opportunity to raise the profile of their recruiting drive, Coventry Street Pastors will hold a Launch Service on Monday 21st September 2015, commencing at 7.00pm at The Methodist Central Hall in Coventry. The Bishop of Coventry - The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth has kindly agreed to be the patron of Coventry Street Pastors and will give an address at the Launch Service. Coventry Churches, Coventry City Councillors, including the Mayor have all been invited, along with key Council Officers responsible for the night time economy. For further information contact: Coventry Street Pastors Coordinator – Zoe Bell
either by email: [email protected] or call: 07770 160909
