Scottish Street Pastors have met a request from St Andrew’s University to provide placements as part of the training of medical students. In Scotland there are 600 experienced Street Pastors who have had training, PVG checks, and are on the streets with the support of Police Scotland, the Scottish Government and localauthorities. Their uniformed teams are on the streets of 20 towns and cities from approx 10pm – 3 or 4 am one or two nights a week to “listen, help and care”.
Life on the streets is unpredictable with the teams coming across all kinds of people with mental health issues, ex-service issues, problems connected with addiction, homelessness, disclosures of abuse, suicide threats, etc. The students report positively learning how to listen. and comment on the importance of team support and morale, as in the appended report. Below is the report.
An example to be followed by other medical schools ! Further information may be had from scotland@ascensiontrust.org.uk
