Lollipops, flip-flops and calming presence as Street Pastors add mobile safe zone

A SAFE and calming place for vulnerable people in distress on a night out.

That's what the Street Pastors in Moray offer and their service has taken on a new dimension.

They have purchased a safe zone vehicle thanks to a £46,000 grant from the Just Transition Participatory Budget fund and £10,000 from the NHS Grampian Endowment Fund.

Morayvia supported the charity with the logos.

Street Pastors regularly meet people on the street who are vulnerable through alcohol and/or drugs, or have health problems, both physical and mental.

Since the service was launched locally in 2013, people recognise the Street Pastors as people they can open up to.

Spokesman Gordon Methven said: "Our ethos is caring, listening and helping. Having somewhere warm we can take vulnerable people to is a great help and gives us more time to speak to people and maybe signpost them to other agencies where they can get support, and hopefully lead to early interventions."

It is also hoped the vehicle will be used outside schools when they are engaged in school

pastor work.

"Our aim is to help schools improve the health and wellbeing of the students.

"We could also use it in other communities where people need our support."

All the pastors are volunteers from churches across Moray.

They go out in teams of four most Saturday nights from 10pm to 4am in Elgin City Centre,

engaging with people on the streets, to listen, care and offer practical help, especially to those who are in a vulnerable state through alcohol or drugs.

They have time to listen to people who often trust them enough to share their troubles and deepest fears. They show love in practical ways, such as giving flip flops to those whose feet are sore and high heels are too high by the end of the night.

They also hand out bottles of water to help with dehydration caused by alcohol consumption and lollipops which provide a sugar boost and also prevent people getting themselves into trouble.

"People are unlikely to start arguing or shouting abuse if they are sucking on a lollipop."

Street Pastors also help those who have become separated from friends by staying with them and helping find their friends or to arrange another safe way home.

They carry basic First Aid, space blankets, beanie hats and shower ponchos.

They also have school pastors who engage with students at Elgin High School and Forres Academy to listen, care and offer practical help in partnership with the schools.

Street Pastors are now a world-wide Christian organisation founded in London in 2003 who play an active part in strengthening community life and working for safer streets.

It started with three teams of six in Hackney in 2003 and there are now 14,000 trained street pastors worldwide in 282 locations.

Although Street Pastors are all Christian volunteers they are not there to preach, but will happily

share their faith with anyone who asks them questions about it. They would like people to know

that Jesus loves them.

Street Pastors are active in more than 250 locations throughout the UK and 23 in

Scotland.

All pastors undergo a rigorous recruitment and selection process amd must become members of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme and complete a high quality 50 hour training course.

Street Pastors work closely with the local police, councils and stakeholders in the

night-time economy.