Newport revellers to get helping hand with new service (From South Wales Argus)

Newport revellers to get helping hand with new service

11:10am Saturday 1st August 2009

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PARTY goers in Newport will have a sympathetic ear on the city centre’s streets tonight with the launch of the city’s street pastor service.

Twelve pastors from the city’s churches will venture out at 10pm to offer guidance to revellers, while also relieving pressure on the emergency services.

With the support of Newport police and the city council, the pastors will help anyone who is upset, disorientated, separated from their friends, or just in need of someone to talk to.

Pastor of Baneswell’s St Mary Street baptist church Les Tuckwell will be heading up the team of men and women who will work until 4am.

Mr Tuckwell, 63, said he hoped the pastors could provide a valuable community service.

He added their support would not end that evening, but that they would also people on to relevant authorities such as housing or counselling services, or welcome them into church at a later date.

Although it is not the pastors’ intention to recruit people, Mr Tuckwell said it was important for the church to be visible.

“We have always expected people to come to us, but now we are going out there to where they are," he said.

The team have been training for six weeks for tonight’s launch and will work every Friday night following this week’s Saturday shift.

Sergeant Bernie Dawson, Newport’s sergeant for crime, disorder and partnership working, said the pastors would allow them to concentrate on policing matters and he hoped they would become a well-known fixture of the city’s night life.

Members of the public are invited to attend the pastors’ commissioning service at 7.30pm in St Woolos Cathedral, Stow Hill, where they will be given official authority to do their work in the city centre.

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