The public launch of the Street Pastors scheme in Hedge End, West End and Botley took place on Monday, 10 May, at the 2000 Centre in Hedge End.

Speakers included the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Pamela Holden-Brown, and Chief Inspector of Police for Eastleigh District Diana Boyles.

Street Pastors is a joint scheme administered by churches, local government and the police, and teams are already operating successfully in Southampton, Eastleigh, Fair Oak and Horton Heath. The police believe a reduction in crime levels in Fair Oak last year was in great part due to the presence of Street Pastors in the area.

Eastleigh Borough Council has contributed £5,000 toward the cost of running the scheme and Eastleigh Mayor, Cllr Pamela Holden-Brown, commented, “I am delighted that the borough has helped with a cheque for £5,000. The Borough Council is really very happy to be involved with this – they are very supportive. It’s a wonderful scheme.”

All Street Pastors are volunteers who are trained to engage with people out on the streets, to listen and provide support where needed.

Frank Parker, Street Pastor coordinator for Hedge End said, “Our aim as Street Pastors is to offer care through listening to and by engaging with people on the streets at night. As a group we are looking forward to becoming active in July and to playing our part in the local communities.”

Fifteen volunteers are currently undergoing training and are due to graduate on 26 June. They will be commissioned on Friday 2 July and will start patrolling that evening.

The 15 will be joined by two already qualified to make a team of 17 and will patrol on Friday nights in threes or fours out on the streets and in the parks where people – and particularly young people – tend to gather.

The volunteers come from all walks of life and are in jobs ranging from marketing manager to cycling instructor, from student to nurse.

Trainee volunteer Sue (volunteers wear badges showing only their first name) said, “The training has been really informative. We’ve looked at what the police do in the area and have also heard from ex-prisoners and will be having a talk from social services about working with the homeless. We’ve had sessions on drugs, sex and STIs, and drink problems.”

She added, “I really believe Christians need to be out in the street to be seen. We are not there to preach, but to listen to people, pick up on their problems and direct them to the right agencies.”

Pastor Steve Harris from King’s Community Church: “When we were looking for volunteers we asked ‘Who wants to make a difference?’ This strikes a chord with people – it’s a chance to get out of the church building and to make a real difference.”

Chief Inspector Diana Boyles described the scheme as ‘a real winner’.

She said, “The Street Pastors are very recognisable in their uniforms. They are there to care, listen and to help, to talk to anyone and everyone on the streets. Many people don’t want to speak to the police, but will speak with the Street Pastors – experience in Fair Oak has shown that.

“Speaking for Hampshire Constabulary I can say they have our support 100 percent.”

Sergeant Mark Carter, responsible for the Safer Neighbourhoods team in Hedge End North confirmed, “We are looking forward to working with the Street Pastors.”

The Street Pastors scheme is an inter-denominational church activity set up initially in 2003 by Rev Les Isaac to help address issues of binge-drinking, gang culture, loneliness, violence, and gun and knife crime in Brixton. It is now administered by the charity, Ascension Trust, with more than 125 teams nationwide.

The church input for the scheme here is coordinated by Churches Together in Hedge End, West End and Botley and if you’d like more information about the scheme here in Hedge End, visit the Hedge End page on the Street Pastors’ website.

See also Hedgeendpeople’s December story ‘Street Pastors Scheme Coming to Hedge End, West End and Botley’.