Shrewsbury Street Pastors
About us
Since 2011
Street Pastors are Christian volunteers of any denomination, engaging with people on the streets to listen, care, and offer help. Street Pastors work in partnership with police, local councils and other statutory agencies to respond to needs on the street. Shrewsbury Street Pastors started in 2011 and has trained over 63 volunteers from 17 churches from 7 different denominations.
A team of Street Pastors (consisting of 3 or 4 trained volunteers) patrols the town centre every Saturday between the hours of 10pm. and 3am (approx.) to help, care for and listen to those in difficulty without judgment or discrimination. A bottle of water for those who are dehydrated, a pair of flip-flops for those struggling to walk in high heels, a space blanket for those without a coat, a phone call to track down missing friends or arrange a taxi home, or simply a listening ear – all are part of a night’s work for a Street Pastor. We are linked by radio with the emergency services, the door staff and the town’s CCTV system.
Street Pastors, as a national organisation, was pioneered in London in 2003 by Revd Les Isaac.
Since then over 12,000 street and prayer pastors have been trained, playing an active part in strengthening community life and working for safer streets.
Currently, more than 200 towns and cities around the UK have a Street Pastors team. When you add prayer pastors, management teams and trustees, this means that there are over 20,000 volunteers in total associated with the Street Pastors network. Find out more about Street Pastors nationally and recent news at www.streetpastors.org.uk.
Team Shrewsbury
Steve Jones – CEO
VACANT – Co-ordinator
Trustees
Pete Lawton – Chair
Pauline Jones – Secretary
Christine Tinker – Treasurer
Dee Plozay, Carol Donahugh, Jo Neale, Ivan Hacking, Nick Webb
We are proud to be the mayors charity this year and look forward to some wonderful events and great benefits to the charity to help us continue the amazing work we do.
Shrewsbury Street Pastors is a Registered Charity working independently alongside the following organisations:
A night in the life of a Prayer Supporter
Prayer support backing up Street Pastors while they’re out on the streets is an integral part of the Street Pastor ethos. This happens in several ways. Individual Street Pastors ask one or two fellow Christians to regularly hold them in prayer, specifically when they are doing a shift. And at the start of each shift, the team start with prayers; for grace, wisdom and protection for them in whatever lies ahead during the coming night, as well as for all the people they’ll encounter on that shift.
When Steve Jones came to my church one Sunday to give a talk about the work of the Street Pastors and to commission one of the congregation as a new Street Pastor, he said they were short of people to provide prayer back up. I’ve always been well impressed with the work of the Street Pastors – it seems to me just the sort of place Christians need to be – and the possibility of being involved in some way was appealing. Age and church duties on Sunday morning made me reluctant to consider becoming a full-blown Street Pastor, but leading a short act of worship before they went out on their shift sounded do-able. I contacted Steve to express my interest, and he arranged for me to go out with the Street Pastors as an observer one Saturday night, to see how it works and get a flavour of what happens, and how the Street Pastors deal with incidents.
It was a cold, wet winter night when I found the entrance to their base behind the big wooden doors by the reference library. I was given a warm welcome, a high vis jacket with “Observer” on in large letters, and was briefed about going out with them. I found the atmosphere among the team awesome! There was a mix of ages and denominations, some bringing work backgrounds skills and experience; there was relaxed chatter and downbeat humour as they got kitted up, replenished supplies and checked that phones and “walkie-talkies” worked properly. They exuded a quiet sense that they knew what they were about. I felt helping to send them out blessed for the hours ahead was definitely something I wanted to offer.
So I go every 4-6weeks, getting there for about 9.45pm, as the Street Pastors are arriving and getting ready to go on duty. I usually help make a hot drink for them and boil water to fill flasks to take hot drinks to the homeless, then sit with them as the team leader gives a briefing about any particular things to watch out for that night. Then it’s over to me to lead the 5-10 minute worship slot that I’ve prepared, consisting of a few verses of scripture and some prayers on a relevant theme, finishing with us sharing the Grace together. I choose to stay till they return for their mid-way break, the time of which varies, of course, depending on what’s happening on the streets. I tidy up the coffee cups, then settle down to pray. I’m not into rosaries, but I find taking my knitting works well! I focus my thoughts on a different aspect for each row. Some of the team leaders phone me when they’re called to a situation, so I can pray about the particular circumstances and people involved. One of them usually phones in to let me know they’re on their way back for a break, so I can get the kettle on and get out whatever food goodies are on offer that night.
The Street Pastors really appreciate this support. And it’s wonderful for me to be a small part of this Christian initiative, which reaches out as a compassionate presence to those in need – just as Jesus did. But there’s still a shortage of people to provide prayer back up. I encourage anyone reading this who thinks they could offer such support, to contact Steve. If anyone feels moved to be involved in this way, but unsure about leading worship, I’d be happy to help with finding material and resources etc.
Gill Carding – Prayer Supporter
words of appreciation
Hi. I would just like to say a huge thank you to the team who were volunteering into the early hours of this morning. My daughter was with her friend, who we now think had had her drinks spiked, and the care and consideration they received was excellent. It is a really worrying time with our youngsters and your presence is so valuable. I admire your commitment and perseverance in these troublesome times and give thanks.
To the team of street pastors that sorted me out on Saturday night…Thank you! I am extremely embarrassed at the state I was in that night, and equally as grateful for the steps you took to get me home. I do not remember anything, only what I’ve been told by my mum. I really appreciate the work you people do, and I’m sorry you had to do it for me.
I understand how lucky I was that you found me. I hope I am never that bad ever again. I’m also sorry if I acted aggressively towards any of you; I was not in control of myself, I would never act that way normally.
Thank you again – Shrewsbury really is lucky to have you!