Eastbourne Street Pastors celebrate 10 years of service

In February 2010, the first newly-trained volunteers were commissioned as street pastors by the Reverend Les Isaac, founder of Street Pastors nationally.

And so on Friday, February 5, 2010 the team ventured out on its first patrol.

Ten years on the organisation met at the Grove Theatre joined by supporters, funders and leaders from some of the 20 churches that are represented on the team, celebrating a decade of caring, listening and helping.

Eastbourne Inspector Rachel Barrow said she was delighted to attend.

She said, “It was a real privilege to share in the pride and joy as those involved took time to reflect on their achievements over the last 10 years and look forward to new challenges ahead.

“The longevity of the street pastors in Eastbourne is testament to the bond and commitment of this fantastic group of people coming together to simply being there to keep people safe.

“My experience is that the pastor scheme in Eastbourne works hard to maintain their independence and integrity in order to extend their care to people who distrust persons in authority.

“Police officers can never establish the same kind of trust and communication as the pastors do each weekend.

“They work to educate and encourage changes of behaviour when that behaviour is likely to put them at risk.”

Inspector Barrow continued, “Street Pastors engage with people on the streets to care for them, listen to them and help them. There is no judgement and no agenda.

“They have become a part of the natural habitat, the fabric of our town centre. They work together with other partners in the night-time economy to make communities safer.

“Wherever street pastors patrol, crime and anti-social behaviour goes down. There is no way of knowing just how many people have been kept safe as victims of crime, and for that I am extremely grateful.

“The scheme is managed extremely well and is professional with their delivery, communication and training.

“Graeme Bunn, Street Pastor Coordinator, has a strong voice and represents the street pastors with integrity and passion.

“I am extremely grateful to Graeme for his commitment to keeping the scheme going, he continues to look ahead with enthusiasm and vigour.”

Thirteen of the original team are still active and part of the current more than 40-strong team of street and prayer pastors.

More than 100 people have been on team during the 10 years and they were presented with a certificate in recognition of their work.

During the cake cutting celebration words of thanks and encouragement were given by local police Inspector Rachel Barrow, the first coordinator Jean Duckworth-Lloyd and management group chairman Brian Arnott.

Patrolling the streets from 10pm until 3-4am every Friday and Saturday night for 10 years – with additional patrols on special nights including New Years Eve – means they have completed more than 1,000 patrols.

In addition to listening, caring and helping, they have distributed more than 6,000 pairs of flipflops, 12,000 bottles of water and thousands of lollipops.

On top of this, hundreds of foil blankets, sleeping bags, pairs of gloves and woolly hats have also been given away.

In recent years the work has been bolstered with the introduction of the Safe Space vehicle, a bespoke van that offers additional facilities to look after people needing help during the night.

A potable defibrillator is also available and even when out and about, the patrol are only a phone call away.

A spokesperson for the street pastors said, “The police acknowledge a reduction in crime and disorder figures with the softer approach shown by the pastors, whose presence can help soften and absorb aggression.

“Distributing the free lollipops may help a little here too.”

All the street pastors are volunteers who pay for their own training and uniforms.

The pastors say they do not preach to the people they encounter but just offer practical help and a listening ear wherever it is needed.

For more information, contact them at [email protected].