‘Churches Together in Woodbridge and Melton’ launched a Town Pastor Scheme in Woodbridge on Friday 17th April 2009. The scheme aims to look after people who are in a vulnerable state late at night and is being supported by Woodbridge and District Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).

Woodbridge has a number pubs and restaurants ranging from traditional Real Ale houses and family pubs to bars with extended hours that attract younger people. Members of the Town Pastor Scheme believe that there is a need for a Christian presence on the streets to offer support to vulnerable people, help to defuse potentially difficult situations, and work with other agencies in the town by providing a positive influence in the town backed by prayer.

The funding for the scheme has been provided by Suffolk Coastal Community Safety Partnership and the management committee has been supported by the police, town council and publicans.   Similar schemes have already been established in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich and police statistics have shown that it has had a positive effect on alcohol fuelled crime and disorder.

The role of a town pastor is complementary to that of a Police Officer. Both provide a presence so that people can enjoy their night out, defuse any potentially aggressive situations, encourage safe behaviour and foster good relationships between the public and other partnership agencies. Before the pastors start each patrol, they will be briefed by a member of the Woodbridge SNT.

The town pastors in Woodbridge can be easily identified with their high visibility yellow jackets and will be carrying a range of essentials from water and food to blankets and tissues. The pastors are all volunteers from the community that have undergone training to allow them to undertake the role.

Town pastors will be patrolling in combined male and female pairs initially on Friday nights from 8.30pm to 12.30am in a group of 4 pastors. They will be equipped with Town link radios, mobile phones for support and can call for the help of the SNT officers for backup should they need it.

Town Pastor Management Team Member Carolyn Swinney says, “We are so excited about the support and response we have had from the local churches, the police, the Nightsafe Group, the council and the Community Safety Partnership. In the last month we have had quite an intense training period but we now have everything in place and are very much looking forward to taking to the streets and making a positive contribution to the community.”

Chair of ‘Churches Together in Woodbridge and Melton’ Julie Mansfield added, “This type of project is precisely what the gospel promotes - people coming together to make their actions speak louder than words.”

For more information about the Woodbridge Town Pastors Scheme please visit http://www.townpastorswoodbridge.org.uk/