A: Street Pastors is a church-based scheme through which Christians from different churches get together and go out onto the streets of Belfast, to care, listen and help. Street Pastors was started in Brixton, London in 2003 and there are now over 280 schemes and over 14,000 volunteers in Ireland and GB, and now in other countries. Q: Is it linked to the Police and other services? A: It is a churc
h initiative that works closely with the Police, City Council and Belfast City Centre Management. Street Pastors UK has been highly praised by the Prime Minister, Mayor of London, Archbishop of Canterbury and many local services, and of course people who are helped! A: We wear a uniform to help people identify us as an organised scheme, and to distinguish ourselves from other services such as the police. We have summer and winter uniforms which have high visibility markings. Wearing a uniform often helps people approach us and start a conversation. Q:What do Street Pastors do? A: We go out in teams of 3 or 4 around Belfast City Centre. We talk to pub and club owners and security staff, start conversations in the street and look for people who need some help or a friendly ear. We don’t preach at people, or give out tracks, but we are often asked about Christian things and are able to share and pray with people if appropriate. We are not trained to physically break up fights, but with humour and wisdom, can often help diffuse what might otherwise become a nasty incident. Q: What happens on a typical night? A: We meet at 10:45 pm and go out from just after 11pm to 2 or 3 am on Friday or Saturday nights in the centre of Belfast. Every night is different, but often we:
• Pick up bottles and glasses which could be used as weapons
• Give out flip-flops to girls in high heels who have sore fee :(
• Help people get taxis/other transport – sometimes staying with them until someone collects them
• Help prevent anti-social incidents
• Help with simple first aid
• Point people to other appropriate services
• Answer questions and share our faith with people
We also now go our earlier on Saturday evenings to parks and residential areas. Q: What difference does it make? A: We take some pressure of the emergency services – we have time they don’t have
• Street Pastor schemes have contributed to a fall in crime rates
• Glasses and bottles are removed from the street so they cannot be used as weapons or trodden on by bare feet -on one night out we picked up over 2000 bottles!
• The town becomes a safer place
• We can phone for help
• We present a caring face of the Good News of Jesus
• We help protect vulnerable people
Q: What are the requirements to be a Street Pastor?
• A passion for Jesus and the community
• At least 18 years old (no upper limit!)
• Commitment to a local church, a recommendation from a church leader and an Access NI check
• Commitment to going out at least 1 once a month
• Commitment to undertaking 12 modules of training – spread over a year. Primarily your time and effort is all that’s needed! There is a £50 contribution to the training/refreshments which sometimes churches help with. The rest of the uniform is kindly subsidised by our friends and partners.
• We need people who are able and willing to pray, give and help with special events.
• Training is given to all new Street Pastors; There are 12 modules in the training which cover roles and responsibilities, alcohol and drugs awareness, roles of Police and other services, understanding our community etc. Q: Who runs the scheme? A: There is a management committee with representatives from different churches, Police, Belfast City Council and Belfast City Centre Management. Belfast Street Pastors will become a registered charity. We don’t have an office or paid employees so the main costs are training, uniform and buying flipflops etc. We have received some support from individuals, charities, the Council and the Police. Q: How can I find out more? Tel: 07516 230181
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://streetpastors.org/locations/belfast/
