Street walkers

With a constant barage of urban problems making the news, many residents fearful of the nightime streets.

Knife crime and anti-social behaviour regularly hit the headlines causing communities up and down the country to turn into no-go zones after dark. But one group of volunteers is helping reclaim the streets by becoming a friendly face to all around. Reporter BEATRIZ AYALA met with the Street Pastors to learn about their work.

A TEAM of blue-shirted volunteers have become a familiar sight in Hollinwood and Limeside over the past few months.

Subtle and unimposing, with no agenda to promote, the group spend hours walking the streets late into the night.

From youth, to pub goer and elderly resident, they speak to all people they come across, always ready to offer a friendly ear. And, despite initial hostility and suspicion, communities are opening up to the Street Pastors.

Peter Gilson (42), area co-ordinator, covers the Harpurhey area but is helping train the Hollinwood and Limeside team.

He said: “Street Pastors are proving very successful.

“When we first started, there was a lot of stick but, as people get to know us, there is a high level of respect, especially when they find out we are volunteers and are out to help.

“Our main aim is that we want individual lives to improve, and as a result see communities improve.”

Street Pastors is an interdenominational church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue.

Pioneered in London in 2003, each group is set up by the the Ascension Trust and has moved from London to Moss Side and then to Greater Manchester.

Each 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.

As they get to know people in the community, they also find out their needs and what can be done to help.

Mr Gilson said: “In Gorton, Greater Manchester Police figures showed crime had dropped by 23 per cent on the nights we were out.”

There are currently 60 Streets Pastors in Greater Manchester from 18 different churches, and the Hollinwood and Limeside team is the first to be established in Oldham.

Set up in April with 17 members, they had originally intended to move into the Failsworth area until police requested they concentrate on Hollinwood and Limeside.

Each Street Pastor needs to be over 18 and willing to commit at least one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 4am, to covering a specific area.

The scheme is proving so successful there are plans to introduce pastors to Chadderton next year.

Mr Gilson said: “We speak to whoever is out there, but we are geared up to young people as they feel most isolated from society.

“Talking is initiated by the people who speak to us, we would never impose our presence. Now we get groups of young people calling us over.”

Mr Gilson said part of the problem is, at night, there is often not a police presence apart from patrol cars passing through the area.

He said: “This is the church’s response to social problems.

“We don’t have goals and targets to reach like other organisations, and we’ve got no agenda.

“We can spend five minutes with a person or a whole evening with them.

“All the pubs have welcomed us — one landlord even bought all the pastors a drink and has been referring his customers to us.” The Street Pastors are a link to other agencies and can refer people to services such as housing and drugs.

Some pastors are trained to identify drug users and people suffering from social or mental health problems.

And, although other organisations such as the police link into the organisation, Street Pastors operate a strict confidentiality policy.

Mr Gilson said: “We do point to service providers, for example, kids who slip through the net are pointed towards Connexions.

“We are a link for people who have been asking about social problems, but can also be just a friendly face.”

One advantage that the Street Pastors have over other community services and organisations is that they are looking at long term solutions.

Mr Gilson said: “One thing communities have been disillusioned with are schemes that end when funding stops after a few years.

“We are here for the long haul and our wider thinking revolves around a 10 year strategy.
“The church has a presence in the community and so will the street pastors.

“It is about building up ongoing relationships with people through long term regular contact.”

But can a group of enthusiastic volunteers really make a difference?

Mr Gilson said: “Either we choose to do nothing or we can play a part and maybe those small parts can be built up to something that can overcome.

“We are not about promoting the Church but are about promoting the best in the community and getting young people to recognise the best in themselves.”

Limeside Street Pastor Lee Marsland (30), from Limeside, said: “I do house calls every time I’m out, and I’ve had positive feedback from them all.

“Someone even came up to me in Shaw and asked ‘are you one of those street pastors?’ so word is getting out.

“The other night there were 30 or 40 young teenage guys by the skatepark, opening up to us about their experiences.”

Fellow member Ruth Guttridge (26), from Hollins, said: “We have the odd rough patch, suspicious about why we are out and why we want to bring them into conversation.

“But I’ve never been scared, although I sometimes struggle to find the answers to all the questions they ask.”

Elizabeth Boswell (65), from Failsworth and New Life Church, said: “We don’t ask them anything but they start talking to you and many times have asked for a payer.

“They just want some reassurance and a listening ear.

“I do feel its making a difference to people’s lives and it is very rewarding as you can reach out to people who would never dream of going to church.”


For more information call 07906 102 522.