Rushden Street Pastors group relaunched and ready for town centre patrols over Christmas and New Year
Rushden Street Pastors have relaunched in the town and will be out and about offering support to people during the festivities.
The official relaunch took place last month at an event at Park Road Baptist Church attended by the Street Pastors, Rushden town councillors, local police, church ministers and members.
During the event, Sue Clarke was licensed as a new Street Pastor by Sarah Williams from Northampton, representing the Ascension Trust, which is the national organisation for Street Pastors.
Sue is a member of St Mary’s Church in Higham Ferrers.
But this wasn’t the group’s first event as they have already been out and about in the town with some existing Street Pastors providing a friendly and reassuring presence at Rushden’s Party in the Park back in July.
Patrols are currently taking place around Rushden town centre one Saturday every month, including at the turning on of the Rushden Christmas lights on November 29.
They will next be out on the streets on New Year’s Eve.
David McGrath, co-ordinator of Rushden Street Pastors, said: “We would love to be able to provide friendship and support to people within Rushden town centre every Saturday and possibly at other times.
"To do that, we need more people to come forward to be trained and volunteer.
"In addition, donations towards our running costs are always welcome.”
Rushden Street Pastors are one of more than 300 similar groups across the country.
Street Pastors are members of local churches who have volunteered to provide physical and emotional support to local residents and visitors.
The current Rushden Street Pastors are a relaunched version of a group that was originally founded in the town in 2008, which had a positive effect on the town at the time, both on the streets and providing training for other Street Pastor groups across the county.
Anyone wanting more details about the Rushden group can call David on 07716 172101 or by emailing [email protected].
They can also visit the Rushden Street Pastors Facebook page.
Further information is available on the Street Pastors website.