Street Pastors’ branch to launch in Erdington

Members of churches in Erdington are preparing to train as Street Pastors. The launch of the group will take place online at 1.00pm on Saturday, 27 March. The Right Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham, will be Guest of Honour at the virtual event. The meeting will also be addressed by the Operations Director of the Ascension Trust, the parent body overseeing the work of Street Pastors nationally. Among the civic leaders attending the launch is Jack Dromey, Member of Parliament for Erdington. Street Pastors will be on Erdington High Street on the morning of Saturday 27 March, prior to the launch, speaking to those who are interested in being involved in the project. The local Management Committee is comprised of Pastor Rasaq Ibrahim (Chair), Claire Westmacott (Secretary), Mel Taylor (Treasurer), Rev Malcolm Oliver and Jean Morton.

Welcoming the launch of Erdington Street Pastors, Councillor Mick Brown (Gravelly Hill), said, ‘Having witnessed the impact of Street Pastors during the time that my wife was Lord Mayor, I know that they are not people standing on the sidelines, but people who are out on the streets every week making a difference. They bring a message of hope to people who don’t think that live is worth living, especially important at this time where Covid has shone a light on the massive inequalities in society.’ Also happy about the arrival of the Street Pastors’ scheme within the area is Steve Botham, who says, ‘God’s hand is on Erdington. I love your unity and your passion to pastor your community. I worked with Street Pastors to develop the training material. They are awesome.’

Street Pastors are volunteers aged 18 or over, drawn from the Christian community, who are willing to complete a challenging training programme that includes sessions on youth culture, drugs and homelessness. A clean DBS certificate and character references are required before a volunteer is able to become a Street Pastor. Teams of three or four people work a minimum of one session per month, between 10.00am and 5.00pm.

To access the online launch at 1.00pm on Saturday, click on THIS LINK, or visit www.zoom.us, choose the option ‘Join a Meeting,’ then use the Meeting ID 295 354 9578. In either case, you will need the passcode ’StreetPast.’ For more information about Erdington Street Pastors, e-mail THIS ADDRESS. For information about Street Pastors nationally, click HERE.