This article is written as part of our 12 days to a safer Christmas campaign.
Have you been on a night out in Wrexham and noticed people in blue uniforms handing out flip flops and sweets? These are Wrexham’s street pastors and they are volunteers who want to make our streets a safer place for a night out.
They are trained volunteers from local churches that care about the local community. All street pastors will have completed 12 training sessions spread over a year covering subjects including conflict management, counselling and basic first aid.
Practical Help
Providing a reassuring presence, street pastors listen to and talk with people, provide information on local agencies and aim to discourage anti-social behaviour.
Practical help provided by street pastors include handing out blankets, giving flip flops to clubbers unable to walk home in their high heeled footwear, giving out water, chocolate or sweets for energy and ensuring the safety of anyone feeling vulnerable. Street pastors remove bottles and other potential weapons from the streets, in order to discourage violence and vandalism.
Working in Partnership
They are led by a local coordinator and have support from local churches and community groups in partnership with WCBC, NW Police, CCTV staff, Door staff/Security, Paramedics, Welfare Centre and Red Cross Volunteers.
There are a total of 36 street pastors in Wrexham and they operate every Saturday night from 10.30pm until around 3am as well as every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month.
Want to volunteer?
Currently over 300 towns and cities across the UK have a street pastors team. There are also a growing number of street pastor teams overseas.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Street Pastors work, or are interested in becoming a Street Pastor yourself, please contact them here.
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