Rugby Street Pastors
Now out Patrolling every Friday and Saturday night!
In August 2010, Rugby’s first 18 Street Pastors started patrolling the Rugby Town Centre streets from 10pm Friday nights – 4am Saturday mornings. A presence of Street Pastors at 3.30 in the morning around the clock tower in Rugby Town Centre, where intoxicated clubbers congregate whilst waiting for a taxi, brings a calming, reassuring influence, with many people saying they feel much safer when they see Street Pastors are watching out for them.
Their role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping - working in an unconditional way. People in Rugby are now getting 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 (kindly funded by CSP), or just being a shoulder to cry on, they are practically demonstrating 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.
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 counselling. A Criminal Records Bureau Check is required and references are obtained before joining a team of at least four people, each of whom will work a minimum of one night a month. A distinctive uniform is worn when on patrol. Street Pastors was started in 2003 by Rev Isaac, Ascension Trust CEO, and is overseen and managed by Ascension Trust, a registered charity. There are currently over 225 Street Pastor groups across the UK and worldwide, with over 9,000 Street Pastors operating on Britain’s streets. 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.
On Sunday 7th of August 2011, a further 18 newly recruited Street Pastors were commissioned at an outdoor service in Caldecott Park, having undertaken over 40 hours of mandatory Ascension Trust training. In attendance were Rugby’s Mayor – Cllr Gwen Hotten, Sean Lawson (RBC) and PC Adrian Bell .
Having doubled their numbers, Rugby Street Pastors will now be able to patrol Rugby’s Town Centre (and outlying estates) every Friday and Saturday nights, from 10pm – 4am.
For further information see our web site: http://www.streetpastors.co.uk/CurrentLocations/Midlands/Rugby/tabid/679/Default.aspx
Or contact Rugby Street Pastors Coordinator – Bob Reeve: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 07738 362899
