‘Our role first and foremost is to be pastors and not preachers. We give practical help and support to anyone who needs it’

To some, Easter might simply be a time to enjoy a couple of extra days off. But for others, it is a particularly meaningful time of the year – and among those are the Street Pastors, who volunteer to keep people safe on nights out in Cardiff, Swansea and Pontypridd.

Volunteering their time each Friday and Saturday night, Street Pastors, who come from different churches, offer practical support for people needing help after a night out or who may be vulnerable.

They work closely with us in the police, offering a helping hand and a friendly ear, and supporting our policing of the night-time economy.

In Cardiff, there are about 30 volunteers from a dozen churches of different denominations, united by a passion for their city and a desire to keep people safe. We spoke to volunteers about why they offer up their time and what Easter means to them.

Here’s what they told us.

“We work alongside the Alcohol Treatment Centre (ATC), the police and door staff and taxi wardens, and together we’re a terrific team! I deeply love Cardiff and want to serve others as best I can, to keep people safe. I also enjoy the camaraderie and interacting with those we meet and support.

“Sometimes, it also gives me an opportunity for a bit of a boogie and singalong(!), even if it’s while pushing a wheelchair trying to keep the patient awake while we get them to the ATC.

“We’re a small part of a large, well-trained chain who care for those who may find themselves in a vulnerable or somewhat dangerous situation, getting them to a safe, warm place (even if it’s until mum or dad or auntie picks them up).

“Since starting to volunteer, I’ve been struck on each shift by how professional and practically caring the South Wales Police, ATC and many door staff are. We link in with South Wales Police on each shift, including via calls from Charlie Romeo and being there to take cases that Street Pastors can deal with so that we can free the police up for more urgent situations.

“I’ve worked in over a dozen countries before and South Wales Police are such standouts in their professionalism and care, I can trust you as I work alongside you.

“I see a definite link with Easter and our work as Street Pastors. We believe that Jesus came to live among us, to provide a message of secure rescue and eternal hope for each one of us through His costly death. He calls us to love and honour and serve, to be His ambassadors in a messed up, hurting world. Easter is everything. He’s why Street Pastors do what we do.”

“It seems such a simple thing to do. To be a friendly presence on the streets, being available to help anyone who needed us, especially those who might be vulnerable because of alcohol or drugs, or have simply become separated from their friends and needed help to find them.

“I didn’t think I’d be suitable for the role until the speaker at my church said the main quality needed ‘was just to care about people.’ I thought ‘I can do that!’ and joined up that evening.

“We talk about being ‘the church on the streets’ and being Jesus to the people we meet. We’re often asked about our faith by people who want to talk to us when they see us, and we’re happy to chat about this. But our role first and foremost is to be pastors and not preachers. We give practical help and support to anyone who needs it.

“On a busy Friday or Saturday night there can be thousands of people out on the streets, and although most will stay safe and have a good time, there will always be some who will become vulnerable. There are so many different reasons why people turn to drink and drugs, and we’ve heard many of their stories, and they are often desperately heart-breaking.

“We hope that showing that we really care about them and that they are worth looking after, will make a lasting impact on them.

“We work so well as a team with the police, door staff of the pubs and clubs, NHS staff in the ATC, and the ambulance service. We’re linked by radio so that we can be called to individuals who need our help. It will often be the police who call us to look after vulnerable individuals they have come across.

“It’s great to arrive at the scene and be able to take over the care of someone who perhaps just needs a bit of TLC, or to be transported to the ATC, so releasing the police to deal with more serious issues. If we find we are dealing with a situation that we sense may be outside our remit, we can call for police assistance. It works really well, and I’ve never felt unsafe on the streets.

“Some of those we help are amazed that we do care about them, and assume that because we are Christians that we will be disapproving of the situation they’re in! It’s great to break that stereotype. Jesus looked at the crowds with compassion, and our response is the same.

“At Easter, Christians believe Jesus proved beyond doubt his deep love for the world by dying on the cross on Good Friday and rising again on Easter Sunday. We believe that if Jesus was walking the earth today, that he would be out in Cardiff city centre showing care and compassion to the people around, so that’s what we want to do as well.”

Inspector Jeff Lewis, from the Cardiff and Vale Community Safety Department, said:

“We are massively grateful to the Street Pastors for their vital efforts in the large team of agencies and individuals who work to make the night-time of Cardiff a safe and enjoyable place for people to socialise.

“They can sometimes see and sense vulnerability and inform the appropriate agency, and it’s also reassuring and time efficient for officers to know they can safely entrust some people to the care of the Street Pastors – allowing officers to be free to assist elsewhere.”