Who are Street Pastors?

Street Pastors is an interdenominational Christian organisation, training and supporting groups of adult Christians who voluntarily patrol the streets of towns and cities at night, helping to keep the peace and caring for people in practical ways.

What does a Street Pastor do?

A Street Pastor is a Church leader/minister or member with a concern for society - in particular young people who feel they can to be excluded and marginalised. They are willing to engage people in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out - be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties)

Street Pastors also work with fellow activists, church and community leaders, and with agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary, to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting young people and help develop initiatives that will build trust between them and the Street Pastors.

As the Street Pastor gets to know people within the community they will learn more about their specific needs and what they can do to help. A presence of Street Pastors will earn credibility in the community, so that people know that the Church is there for them in a practical way. The role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping - working in an unconditional way.

In the Avon and Somerset area, Street Pastors typically patrol in a team of 4 volunteers around the night time economy of individual towns. Their role is to assist people whose night out has gone wrong and assist with their immediate needs, to listen and care for people and only when asked to discuss their faith. The work of Street Pastors is not confined to this role and can be adapted to any circumstance that causes concern for any particular town of city. Volunteers will come from church’s local to the area and will receive full training prior to patrolling.

What are the requirements to be a Street Pastor?

To be a Street Pastor you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member and able to commit to our training programme. Each Street Pastor team consists of at least three groups of four, each of which will work a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 4am.

Where do Street Pastors operate?

Within Avon and Somerset there are numerous locations where Street Pastors operate, these include:

• Weston-super-Mare
• Bridgwater
• Bath
• Kingswood
• Yeovil
• Chipping Sodbury
• Minehead
• Chard
• Wellington
• Taunton

Useful contacts

If you wish to contact a local police officer (see list below) to talk about the work of Street Pastors in your area, you can call Avon and Somerset police on 101.

• Bath & North East Somerset – PS Anthony Unthank
• South Gloucestershire - PC Giles Sutton
• North Somerset – PS David Holtby
• Somerset West – PS Anthony Crowter
• Somerset East – PC Brett Gitsham

Website

Visit the official Street Pastors website