Newcastle Pastors

MORPETH ROTARY MEETS A NEWCASTLE STREET PASTOR

Paul Waugh, Coordinator of Newcastle Street Pastors, came to talk. This Christian Church movement began in London in 2004 and quickly spread to Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle. It took two years to set up in Newcastle as it needs the support of police, council and four or five local churches. The 34 volunteers are from all denominations. Volunteers must have been a church member for at least a year. The daughter of Rotary member Alan Moody and her husband are volunteers. Patrols work in Newcastle city centre from 10.30 pm to 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays. They help anyone alone and vulnerable, talk to street sleepers and beggars, and anyone who may be distressed and drunk, who getsseparated from friends. They find out how they are getting home,have a phone charger to help them make contact, or can get them to a taxi or their local hotel. They carry a first kit and useful items like bottles of water, waterproofs, space blankets and flip flops. There is often broken glass on the streets and some girls are bare foot by 11 pm as it is hard to walk in high heels. The clubs are hot and young people do not wear much even in winter. The blankets are not only to keep them warm but help to cover the modesty of girls if they sit on the ground in short skirts. Anyone homeless that night can be referred to the city council via the charity 'Changing Lives'. The volunteers work in teams of four with a leader. Thewhole team will stay with someone until they recover. They have contact with CCTV operators, the police and door staff who allmake referrals and they can use a police 'safe haven' transit van parked near Newcastle Cathedral. They do very useful work and have had some lovely letters from people they have helped. ABBC TV documentary was made about the work last year and Prince Edward asked to visit.