Street pastors
 |
|
| Motto | Caring, Listening, Helping |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2003 |
| Type | Charitable network |
| Headquarters | London |
|
Region served
|
United Kingdom, other countries following |
| Les Isaac | |
|
Parent organization
|
Ascension Trust |
| Website | streetpastors.co.uk |
Street Pastors is an interdenominational network of Christian charities operating across the UK and world wide.
Street Pastors is an initiative of Ascension Trust. Individual street pastors are Christian adults with a concern for their community, who undergo 12 days of training in order to voluntarily patrol the streets of towns and cities at night, helping and caring for people in practical ways. The initiative began in the United Kingdom and is now being operated in other countries.
Street pastors wear a blue uniform, with the term 'Street Pastor' visible in white. Street pastors work closely with councils and police in their local areas, but maintain an operational independence. Street pastors seek to maintain confidentiality so far as is legal, and do not have any powers of enforcement or arrest. Street pastors are expected to provide services unconditionally. The aim of Street Pastors is not to proactively preach or evangelise, but to provide a neutral and reassuring presence in local communities.
Street Pastors was founded in Brixton, south London, UK in 2003 by Rev. Les Isaac. It was based on a model from Jamaica in which individual churches joined together to take their values out onto the streets. Street Pastors is an initiative of the Ascension Trust, a registered charity established in 1993. The initial activities of street pastors in areas such as Lewisham and Hackney focussed mainly on confronting gang culture and the use of knives and guns. As Street Pastors started to operate in other areas of the UK, the initiative responded to other local issues, including anti-social behavior and drunkenness.
By 2008 there were Street Pastors groups in 70 locations, with another 50 being established. As of January 2015[update] the official website states that there are over 270 active groups.
In 2010 Ascension Trust devolved responsibility to oversee Street Pastors in Scotland to Ascension Trust (Scotland), a Scottish registered charity which has an office in Perth, and whose first chairman is former police officer Sandy Scrimgeour. In 2015 he became CEO and was succeeded in the chair by Shaw Anderson.
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