News

On 3 September 2025, Stornoway Street Pastors and other organisations who made a significant contribution to the Covid-19 response were honoured with commemorative plaques; replicas of the award to the NHS given by the late Her Majesty The Queen.

Stornoway Street Pastors were honoured to receive from the NHS a replica of the St George’s Cross medal, awarded to the NHS and partners by the late Her Majesty the Queen, in acknowledgement of the part played by the Street Pastors at the Covid 19 vaccination clinics. The usual work of the team involves speaking to people and helping them on the streets of Stornoway at weekends. It was therefore quite a change of scene for them to be helping to guide people into the clinics, however, the same principles of Street Pastors still applied, to be Listening, Caring and Helping. The Street Pastors were very happy to be able to help the workers of the NHS and the community at large by being a part of the clinics and the plaque has been gratefully received.

https://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/articles/39713-covid-commemorative-plaque-presentations

Having started in 2010 in Greenock, Inverclyde Street Pastors are about to celebrate 15 years of service at a special event in Hope Community church in Kelly Street Greenock on Saturday 27^th September at 7pm.

The service has now extended to Gourock and Port Glasgow town centres, with Rail Pastors added in 2018 on local trains. ‘It seems the need for Street and Rail Pastors in Inverclyde has increased since Covid’ said Co-ordinator Alistair McAlees, ‘with the downturn in mental health, and we have recently added day patrols in Greenock Town Centre which have been well received.

‘Over the years our trained volunteers have given out hundreds of flip-flops for people who come out of clubs and take off their high heels with risk of cutting their feet on broken glass. We have also given away hundreds of foil blankets to keep people warm, lollipops for a quick sugar intake and we help with basic first aid. We also dispose of bottles left on the streets and have great conversations of all sorts with those we meet, for which we are greatly thanked and we know we have also been life savers, averting firm thoughts of suicide. Our presence on local trains has quite a calming effect, where we come alongside travellers of all ages to listen care and help.

‘The celebration on the 27^th of September, to which all members of the public are invited, co-incides with the 20^th anniversary of Inverclyde Christian Initiative. The Initiative, which also operates other activities, runs the Inverclyde Street and Rail Pastor services, and the occasion will include the commissioning of two new Inverclyde Street Pastors plus lots of stories of what has happened over the past 20 years.’

Alistair added, ‘We need more and more Street and Rail Pastors, and if you are at least 18 years of age, a Christian with a heart for society and young people, please get in touch. There is no upper age limit and our volunteers come from a wide range of churches who come together with a common purpose to listen, care and help. Please get in touch with me at inverclyde@streetpastors.org.uk or by telephone to 07740 201 853.

Our CEO Chris Jewell and a team of Scottish volunteers from Perth Street and School Pastors and Striling Street Pastors supported Scripture Union Scotland at Magnitude festival held at Lendrick Muir between 19-23 July 2025.

Chris said: “It was an anointed week, with well-behaved young people, many of whom got to know much about Jesus and Christian living, with a considerable number of those present making decisions to follow Him.

“This was our first year as a Street Pastor team patrolling at Magnitude, which was a real privilege, and we can’t wait to help in future years. It is a great event, with Christian young people coming from all over Scotland with their youth leaders.

“We look forward to developing our partnership with Scripture Union Scotland, both locally in Inverclyde and beyond over the coming months.”

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/25348758.inverclyde-street-pastors-take-part-national-youth-event/

Our Chairman Shaw Anderson and CEO Chris Jewell plus two Street Pastors from Perth were delighted to be guests at the King’s Garden Party at Holyrood on 1st July. The invitation is a result of the Royal patronage of Street Pastors in Scotland we received from the Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO.

Also thrilled to have Edinburgh Street Pastors represented at the event, along with Perth Street Pastors and Ascension Trust (Scotland).

The temperature was lovely and cool, and we guesstimate around 2000 people were present. We were served wonderful sandwiches, including trout, and delightful cakes.

This picture is one of the Royal Company of Archers (with Chris Jewell) who historically until now are there to protect the sovereign when in Scotland. This gentleman is a children’s surgeon down south. Hats off to him and his troop.

We are delighted to welcome all our various Pastors, Trustees and guests on Saturday 4th October to our national Street Pastor Conference, where we come together to celebrate what God is doing in Scotland across our Street Pastor and other Pastor networks. Time 10am – 4.00pm. 9:30am for tea and coffee for a 10am start. The conference is free to attend.
After last year’s successful Conference, we are returning to Stirling Baptist Church, FK8 1AU, a 3 minute walk from Stirling train station and bus station. The programme will be another encouraging event of family time. If you would like to attend, please book a free ticket: bit.ly/atsconf

Ascension Trust (Scotland) and a team of local volunteers in Lerwick have been working on setting up a new intiative ready to respond to the needs of the community. A meeting was held this week, reported Shetland News, to share more with the community as the team get closer to being ready to go out.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said to Shetland News: “Shetland Church of Scotland is already in discussion with our local ecumenical partners regarding the introduction of a street pastor service and is recruiting volunteers to sharing the caring and loving example of Jesus in practical ways.

“Church of Scotland members, along with volunteers from other denominations, are serving as street pastors in town and city centres, at festivals and other events across the country, helping diffuse tension, or offering practical aid from hot drinks and foil blankets on cold nights to flip-flops for revellers who cannot walk any further in their high heels.

“They also provide a sympathetic ear for people – predominantly young – who may be facing a range of issues, from mental health struggles to homelessness or the impact of abuse or violence.

“We look forward to helping extend that listening, careful and non-judgmental care to the Shetland community.”

To read more about Street Pastors in Scotland see scotland.ascensiontrust.org.uk/locations

Four new Street Pastors were commissioned in Stornoway on 30 May. We are grateful for and celebrate these new volunteers.

The service was introduced by Rev. William Heenan of St Columba’s Free Church, with the message delivered by Rev. Calum Murdo Smith from Stornoway Free Church.

Rev. James Maciver also took part in the proceedings, and the commissioning itself was carried out by Chris Jewell, Chief Executive of Ascension Trust Scotland.

Read more on We Love Stornoway: https://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/articles/38767-four-new-volunteer-street-pastors

For more information about Scottish Street Pastors, and how to join, please see scotland.ascensiontrust.org.uk

Ayrshire Street Pastors have been serving in Ayr and Prestwick for over 10 years, and they are set to begin to support communities in Kilmarnock and Irvine. 

If you want to know what the Pastors are involved in, reports are posted each week on Ayr & Prestwick Street Pastors Facebook page or email ayr&prestwick@streetpastors.org.uk.
For more information, please see https://scotland.ascensiontrust.org.uk/locations/

17 Street and School Pastors commissioned by Sandy Gunn, ATS Deputy Chairman in Auchterarder Parish church, with a big audience attending.

Read all about the many good things happening as a result of Street, Rail and School Pastors being out there throughout Scotland.

Click here to read Good News Club Newsletter!

See also www.scotland.ascensiontrust.org.uk