New era for Street & School Pastors

5th March 2018 / admin / Press Releases / 0 Comment

Isle of Wight Street Pastors are now in their ninth year on the island and have recently made the new appointment of Karen Penn (Right) to the role of School Pastors Coordinator. Karen is replacing Dan Wells (Centre) who took over from Rebecca Savage (Left) in Sept 2015 Sheila Bates (below right) has also stepped down […]

Isle of Wight Street Pastors are now in their ninth year on the island and have recently made the new appointment of Karen Penn (Right) to the role of School Pastors Coordinator. Karen is replacing Dan Wells (Centre) who took over from Rebecca Savage (Left) in Sept 2015 Sheila Bates (below right) has also stepped down as a Trustee for the charity. Sheila has been involved with Isle of Wight Street Pastors since it began on the island in 2009. The charity wishes to express grateful thanks to Dan & Sheila who will be greatly missed.

Street & School Pastors are a group of volunteers from different island churches. Street Pastors aim to be a listening, caring, helping presence on the streets late at night. They are not there to preach but to help and are effective as a “non-anxious presence” in many situations that otherwise can deteriorate quickly. They have been commended by Police for helping to reduce crime significantly on a Friday & Saturday night in Newport & Ryde & have received the Queens Award.

School Pastors are volunteers who work around schools to provide friendship, safety and care through listening & helping. They have been operating in island schools since 2012. School Pastors give a positive adult presence in uniformed patrols at lunchtimes throughout the year, and after school in the first 2 weeks of the school year. They also attend at key times in the school calender eg Head On & Transition Days and on special request from the schools to provide reassurance. They are now expanding their work to include assemblies, drop-ins, group & 1:1 mentoring. They currently attend Medina College and Carisbrooke College at lunchtimes and will be expanding into new schools in September.

We are a multi-denominational charity. Members of any island congregations would be welcome to apply & full training will be given. The commitment is 2 hours a week for school or 6 hours a month for street. Contact sp@iowstreetpastors.org.uk or call 07874 098528.

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