Scott Elliot: Duncan Cameron - Borders Street Pastors

Thu, Aug 30th 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Weekly meeting with guest speaker


Past President Scott Elliot introduced last week's speaker at the Rotary Club meeting.  The co-ordinator of Borders Street Pastors, a uniformed group of volunteers, Duncan Cameron gave a most interesting insight into the history and workings of the organisation who are on Borders' streets each Saturday night between 11 pm and 3.30 a.m. in groups of three to help people who have been enjoying a night-out when problems can arise and their motto is to listen, care and help.  The Street Pastors were formed in 2003 in Brixton with the help of local churches and in 2016 started up in Galashiels followed a year later in Hawick and, although their duties are concentrated where people congregate most, they have been in evidence at Borders Festivals and Hawick Moor.  As well as helping revellers their presence also reduces street crime and disorder as they engage with people and are well accepted.  They each carry a large shoulder bag containing a myriad of useful aids and he gave examples of these, viz: flip flops for someone who has become shoeless (1,228 pairs); bottles of water (500+); lollipops (7,000+) which seem to break up tension instantaneously and many other things including first aid kits.  At the end of each session they debrief, have a short prayer then disband homewards knowing that they have contributed to creating a safer street environment.  Plans are being muted to have the scheme rolled out across the rail network in the future.
Questions were taken and confidently answered after which President Mairhi Trickett gave the vote of thanks for an excellent insight into a most worthwhile cause and made a small donation from the club towards the group's funds.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

2019-20 President Linden Warburton and Treasurer Scott Elliot (centre) meet with Polysport representatives Libby Kennedy (right) and Greg Cuthbert (left)

Hawick Rotary Club has been able to obtain funding for the restoration of the village's Polysport facility after it was inundated by floodwater

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Some info on the entertaining activities we get up to!

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This Committee focuses on international aid and projects

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A summary of Hawick Rotary's work with the community during 2020, despite the problems of Coronavirus and Lockdowns

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Our Vocational & Community Committee concentrates on supporting local community groups and on youth activities, often in collaboration with Hawick High School and with Primary Schools in the town.

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