Background to the Dunfermline Street Pastors Initiative

A Street Pastor is a Church member with a concern for society - in particular young people who feel themselves to be excluded and marginalised - and who is willing to engage with people where they are 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 etc).

Street Pastors are also willing to 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 youth, and initiatives that will build trust between them and the Street Pastors.

As the Street Pastor gets to know people in the community, he/she will find out what their needs are and what can be done 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.

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

The scheme was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev. Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust.  It has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working.

Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local co-ordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups, and in partnership with Police, Council and other statutory agencies.

The Street Pastor Training Programme

The comprehensive training programme is designed to equip new Street Pastors fully to respond to the needs of all the people that they engage with on the streets. Training normally takes 12 days spread over 5 months. The Ascension Trust has training programmes running locally in all areas where there is a Street Pastor project. The training gives participants a full awareness of today’s social problems, including drugs and youth provision.

The Street Pastors organisation is already working in Inverness, Glasgow, Stirling and Perth.  Aberdeen Street Pastors was launched at a Commissioning Service for volunteers at Gilcomston South Church of Scotland on Friday 5 October, 2007. Training had already been undertaken and the 26 volunteers, aged from 18 to 75, from ten different churches began their work on the streets one week later on October 12th 2007.

The Dunfermline Street Pastors

The Dunfermline section of Street Pastors comprises around 20 people from eight different Churches in the town, and we plan to be on the streets in the town centre every weekend.  This commitment has been established through early discussions on the possibilities in Dunfermline in co-operation with the team working in Perth town centre.  Deputy Divisional Commander Fiona Barker at the Dunfermline Police Station is fully supportive of the Street Pastors initiative, in the knowledge that the Metropolitan Police and Birmingham Police have both supported the initiative fully  and have seen significant reductions in crime in both London and Birmingham when the Street Pastors are in operation.

Funding

We are grateful for the generous donations from  the Rotary Club of £300, the Dunfermline Central community Council of £300, and  £1,500 from Fife Council giving a total of £2,100 towards the total training cost of £6,500. The participants have also contributed £100 each towards the training costs.  It is not envisaged that the on-going running costs will be significant.

Conclusion

We were delighted to be able to start our Street Pastor initiative in time for the 2008 festive season.  We strongly believe that through working in partnership with local agencies we can create a safer environment for the young people of Dunfermline to enjoy a trouble-free night out in the town, leading to a safer place for all.

The first batch of Street Pastors!