CENTRAL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Derby

Derby Street Pastors

Street Pastors is an inter-denominational response from Derby churches to urban problems. Volunteers are trained in first aid, caring and listening, drugs and alcohol awareness and other skills.

They start and finish city centre patrols on Friday and Saturday evenings from this church.

They work in teams of four, with at least one woman, a minimum of one night a month, patrolling the city centre from 10pm to 4am.

Objectives are practical help and also caring for and listening to people and entering dialogue. It is not about preaching but volunteers are happy to discuss faith if people raise the subject. The church can be more real to people by being there in a practical way. The charity was started London in 2003 by Rev Les Isaac of the Ascension Trust and there are now over 3000 street pastors in the UK. Local coordination is done by Derby City Mission in partnership with Police and the City Council.

A drop in alcohol related crime has been reported where there are street pastors in operation.

Further info at: www.streetpastors.co.uk or www.derbycitymission.org.uk.

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