Gloucester Street Pastors (‘GSP’) Application overview:

 

Thank you for thinking about becoming a Street Pastor and seeking to make a difference in our city. You will also receive a leaflet with this application pack which describes the role of a Street Pastor, and what we look for in our volunteers. This note gives a summary of the application process and training arrangements. As you’ll see there is quite a bit of paperwork to be completed but please don’t let that put you off. It is part of our desire for GSP to be run effectively and represent the Churches of Gloucester on the streets of our city.

1. Application form, Confidential declaration form & DBS Checks

You will need to identify two referees, one of which will normally be your Church leader. The referees are given a person specification; this is provided for your information. Street Pastor Volunteers must complete a confidential declaration form as well as the application form – both to be returned to our personnel officer as shown. Street Pastors currently require an DBS disclosure – if you already have one for your Church work we should be able to access that to confirm but otherwise we will need to process a fresh check.

2. Observer Visit

We would ask that you spend a couple of hours out with a Street Pastor Team as an observer. This will enable you to see at first- hand what is involved. Teams are currently out every Saturday.  Please contact our administrator to make the necessary arrangements.

3. Interview

Following receipt of your completed application form and after you have been out as an observer two of the Management team will arrange to meet you for a short informal interview to talk through your application and give you the opportunity to ask any questions about Street Pastors.

4. Finance

To train and equip a Street Pastor costs over £250 (the uniform is over £100). In Gloucester we ask each volunteer to contribute £125 of this. This could be from your own funds, or from family / Church / sponsored activities. However, we do not want anyone who God is calling to this ministry to be prevented by financial considerations, so if this will cause a problem please talk confidentially to a member of the leadership team. If you pay tax we can reclaim the tax on donations made so we enclose a gift aid form.

5. Training

There are a total of 12 modules in the Street pastors training course. There is a handbook which is normally issued at the first training session you attend. The ‘Roles and responsibilities’ training is a full day & normally arranged on a Saturday. The eleven other modules are a mixture of mainly evening sessions, plus a few Saturday courses. You must attend the Roles & Responsibilities module and at least three of the other modules before you can be commissioned as a Street Pastor. The remainder of the training should be completed within 18 months of commissioning. The administrator will advise you of forthcoming training events.

6. Uniform

Street Pastors must wear the uniform provided when on duty. You will be asked for your size when you submit the application form. Typically it takes about one month for your uniform to arrive. We can provide some items for you to try on to check your size – please ask.

7. Rota

Once you have been commissioned we ask you to work at least one shift (10.30 pm until around 3.30/4am) every four weeks. Let us know in good time when you are or are not available. Currently patrols are out every Saturday night (teams of 4)

Our administrator Naomi Skelton can be contacted on  gloucester@streetpastors.org.uk or work mobile 07970 702020 if you would like to find out more.

Clare Cato
Coordinator, Gloucester Street Pastors