News
‘Pray for people’s wellbeing’ says Eustace Constance of Ascension Trust
Chief operating officer for the umbrella organisation Ascension Trust for Street Pastors UK has told Premier Christian News we should “pray for our cities” as they warn of the dangers to life near open waters.
Shrewsbury Street Pastors have warned people, who are on a night out, to be cautious and stay together, after several deaths in the River Severn.
A safety review is being carried out by Shropshire Council after two men died earlier this year.
Aberdeen Street Pastors share a video introducing volunteers Rob & Les
Aberdeen Street Pastors are coming up for their 15th birthday! Amazing work, we honour the dedication and committment of all our volunteers. Here is a recent video from Aberdeen volunteers Rob & Les to celebrate the birthday year.
Remembering Maureen Reid: Service of Thanksgiving and Memory Walk
We are very sad to pass on the news that Maureen Reid passed away recently. She had been ill and in the Queen Elizabeth University hospital for some time. Her family were with her.
Maureen was one of the original management group for Street Pastors in Glasgow’s West End, taking on the role of secretary back in 2014. Trained as a Street Pastor, she was out on the first West End patrol on 19th Dec 2014 and was on regular patrols for the following 5 years until walking became difficult. She remained on the management team, providing great insight (and taking on many jobs!), until management was handed over to GSP.
When chatting last year, she said, ‘I regard my five years’ involvement with West End Glasgow Street Pastors as having been a great privilege, not the least aspect of that having been the friendships made.’
A Service of Thanksgiving and Memory Walk
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Maureen will be held on Saturday 27 August at 3pm in Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Observatory Road, Glasgow, to which all friends are invited. Tea and home baking will be served in the church hall afterwards. A collection for charities important to Maureen will be made; donations can also be made to the JustGiving page In Memory of Maureen
In addition, or as an alternative to the indoor event, you are welcome to join an informal ‘memory’ walk through Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the West End starting at 10.30am on the same day. We’ll start from the main entrance to Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Observatory Road (Saltoun Street entrance). Walking was, for Maureen, not just a useful form of transport and meditative exercise, but an opportunity for easy social interaction. The outline route will take about two hours, but the walk can be joined for as long as time or energy allows, and you are encouraged to bring any memories, whether of Maureen or of your own valued friends and family.
For more details on either event, you can contact Donald and Susie Reid on pmr@vforth.net
For those who are unable to attend, here is the link to the service which will go out live at 3pm on Sat 27th and will be available to view for a month afterwards: http://www.
Ten years of Bathgate Street Pastors
Labour councillor Harry Cartmill volunteers with the Bathgate Street Pastors – celebrating a decade of the volunteers patrolling the streets.
The Bathgate Street Pastors are celebrating their tenth anniversary as they support vulnerable people.
The Christian support group has been active in the community for the last decade, with volunteers representing the Bathgate churches taking to the streets at the weekend.
Working alongside other professionals, the volunteers support, listen and care for nighttime revellers in the town.
Peterhead Blue Light day
Our Peterhead Street Pastors took part, with several other organisations, in the Peterhead Blue Light Day, 23 July 2022. Street Pastors created an ice breaker for children to match pictures with clues, and adults engaged with the team. Children are the adults of tomorrow! Some people admitted to having had flip-flops from Street Pastors in the past. A few conversations seemed significant for people in their faith journey. We were able to raise awareness of Street Pastors, feel better included in the Community Safe and Secure Partnership, and engage with the community in a positive and fun way. Here are some pictures, taken with permission.
Perth Grammar School recognises School Pastor commitment
In June 2022, Perth School Pastors and Street Pastors were invited to Perth Grammar School awards ceremony. The School Pastors were surprised, but delighted to be awarded the Douglas Bader Quaich for commitment to the school!
One highlight for Perth Street Pastors was being at Prom where we really got to know people better. We were able to achieve our goal of raising awareness of Street Pastors in various locations that have Universities relevant to the young people.
Perth School Pastors continue to look for ways to develop the relationship with Perth Grammar School. Looking forward to connecting with more staff and pupils again after the summer break.
Street Pastors on Revival Radio
Every day this week from 25th – 29th July on the Revival FM Breakfast show, Carys is speaking to Chris Jewell, the Chief Executive of Ascension Trust – Scotland about Street Pastors Scotland and all the projects he’s involved in.
Make sure you tune in every day from 8-9am and again at 10-11am to hear the interview!
Listen live: revival.fm/radioplayer
Street Pastors Scotland Conference 2022
Book now for Street Pastors Scotland Conference 2022
01 October 2022: Newton Mearns Baptist Church, Glasgow
| CONFERENCE TITLE | Equipping, Enabling and Encouraging |
| WHEN | Saturday 01 October 10am to 4.30pm (welcome from 9am) |
| WHERE | Newton Mearns Baptist Church, 2 Greenfarm Road Newton Mearns, Glasgow G77 6FA |
| WHO IS INVITED? | All our various Scottish Pastors, Chairpeople and Management teams plus any other people who are interested in Street Pastors. |
| COST | Free to attend – donations invited as part of booking to help pay costs. |
| WHAT TO EXPECT | A positive occasion where we look to the future with confidence, outlining specific developments and successes. Including input from our partners, from the CEOs of Ascension Trust Scotland and Ascension Trust, and updates from our Initiatives, with time for reflection, prayer and feedback. |
Street Pastors Scotland Conference 2022 Tickets, Sat 1 Oct 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
For those travelling by car there is ample free parking at the venue. For those travelling by train, there are trains to Patterton train station leaving Glasgow Central, and arrangements have been made for anyone taking the train to be picked up from Patterton station and returned there after the Conference.
Glasgow Newton Mearns (M77 J4) Premier Inn is very near to the venue for any wishing to stay overnight.
There will be a strong emphasis on prayer throughout the Conference. The first session after lunch will include corporate prayer, and there is space for you to ask for private prayer during the lunch period and the tea and coffee breaks.
We greatly look forward to being together again in person for the Conference and meeting as many of you as we can.
Please book early to help us to gauge numbers coming to the Conference.
Could you be who we need?
Could you be who we need?
Get in touch with Bethany Lunn at adminscotland@ascensiontrust.org.uk
13 new Street Pastors commissioned to help in Edinburgh
At a special service at Bruntsfield Evangelical church, 13 additional Street Pastors have been commissioned by Chris Jewell, CEO of the charity Ascension Trust Scotland which oversees Street, Rail, School and Response Pastors across Scotland. Street Pastors have been operating in Edinburgh since 2009 backed by a number of local churches, and have been a valuable asset in the night time economy.
Andy Amour, the Edinburgh Street Pastor Co-ordinator is delighted to have the new volunteers in place. He said, “It was really good to be able to commission such a significant number of additional Street Pastors. This had been delayed due to the Covid pandemic and we know from experience just how valuable they will be in the City Centre. This means we are now able to have Street Pastor patrols out every Friday and Saturday night, listening caring and helping. We already are finding many people wanting to chat and share their experiences with us. There is little doubt that there has come a major increase in mental health issues as part of the pandemic, and we are able to chat and also to signpost people we meet for specialist help.”
Street Pastors are volunteers, especially trained, and come from a variety of Christian denominations and work together for the benefit of the local community. Further information on what they do is available from the Ascension Trust Scotland at www.scotland.