Whilst out on our last patrol, a young lad stopped us as he wanted to thank Street Pastors for all we do.

“One Saturday night in March this year Street Pastors came across me outside the Theatre Royal, I couldn’t stand, could hardly speak and was being sick. I was in a very dark place, but the Street Pastors helped me; a lady sat and talked with me; you listened showing that you cared without judging.

This helped me realise that I was in a dark place and people do care. I don’t want to be in that state again. I go out now have a drink enough to be happy but not in a state where I don’t know what I’m doing.”

He also shared with us that he had lost both his granddads, one shortly after the other.

“I was just getting my head around my first granddad’s death when my uncle rang to say my other granddad had passed away three days later!

This news sent me on a self-destruction path, where I did not care if I was run over by a bus, taxi, car or even stabbed to death. I started taking drugs, even cocaine; when I went out would drink to the extent where I did not know what I was doing.

I was in a very dark place and didn’t care – until that night in March when Street Pastors found me. I consider Street Pastors saved me that night from my-self destruction path, thank you very much.”