Spring Newsletter 2025

Newsletter

Spring 2025

Here in Stratford-upon-Avon the Street Pastors are wrapping up warm and heading out onto the streets to Care, Listen and Help anyone who is out on a Friday evening. And our Prayer Pastors are praying for our town, those on a night out and those who work in the night-time economy while awaiting news and updates of live situations needing prayer.

It’s been cold enough so far this year to have triggered the SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol). This protocol sets out the arrangements that will be put into place to ensure rough sleepers are not at risk of dying on the streets in Stratford-on-Avon District during severe weather. Street Pastors who come across rough sleepers during this time can signpost those in need to the right person to arrange accommodation for them that evening. This is a great initiative, however, the availability of accommodation can often be a factor and the offer may be out of town which requires finding and funding transport to get there. Often this is not practical or affordable and in these cases Street Pastors may be able to offer a sleeping bag if we have one, a space blanket and warm clothes to help them get through the night.

How we’ve Cared, Listened and Helped

This issue contains a variety of snippets from different Street Pastors reports over the last few months showing the type of events that can come up on patrol.

• We walked back into Wood Street and met a couple from Bournemouth in the entrance to the Bell Court, the woman was about to take a photo of her partner with the Christmas lights in the background. Barry offered to take a photo of them both which they were grateful for.
• As we continued into Bell Court a glass bottle had been smashed and was lying on the pavement area outside Ask. We swept up the glass and a young man asked if he could help. We thanked him but said we would be okay.
• SP-R popped into Usha Restaurant to say Happy Christmas and they asked if we could pray for the business as times were hard at the moment.
• We met a group of lads on High Street asked “what is a Street Pastor?” so we stopped and chatted with them for a while.
• We then met a lovely family, they were Christians from the church of England in Dorridge. It was the mum’s birthday and so we stood on the corner and said a prayer with them.
• At the top of Sheep Street we met a couple of Spanish ladies. They were visiting the town and asked where they could purchase a bottle of water so we gave them one.
• We continued up Sheep Street and found Fred¹ with his dog Vin¹ near to the Vintner. He said that he was in contact with P3 and was hoping they would find him accommodation. He said that he had food but we gave him a bottle of water for his dog. SP-R had been wanting to give a brand new dog toy to Dunc¹ but had not seen him for several months. Vin¹ was very happy to accept it and immediately started playing with it.
• As we went back down Sheep Street we met three people from Edinburgh who are down visiting for the weekend. We had a lovely chat with them and they were very friendly. They really appreciated what we do.
• We then met a couple who were lost from Cheltenham and so we directed them and walked with them to the Shipston Road. They were happy and we had a nice conversation with them.
• As we walked up round by McDonald’s we met a lovely couple of young ladies who were very smiley and happy. We had a lovely chat with them and the security door staff outside McDonald’s.
• We met Esther, who originally helped to set up Street Pastors, with her friend Anne¹ outside the Keys. We chatted with them for a while and Esther was encouraged to see that we were still patrolling.
• On returning to Bridge Street, we heard CCTV calling Avon Lounge. After 3 attempts they then tried to call the Coach House. Again, despite a couple of further attempts there was no response. As we were then in Wood Street, Barry asked CCTV if we could help by passing on any message to the door staff. They said that it would be appreciated if we could advise them that CCTV wanted to forewarn them of a group of teenagers who were in the vicinity who should be refused entry. We called at Avon Lounge to find the radio was inside and the noise was preventing the call being heard. Barry suggested that the radio should be with the doorman as CCTV was trying to provide helpful advice. Likewise, we called and advised the doorman at the Coach House to contact CCTV.
• We walked into Bell Court where 3 young women were out together and stopped to talk to us. They had clearly been drinking which removed any inhibitions! One of them wanted to dance for us and proceeded to do so. As she left us, she shouted you are “s£xy b@st@rds”!
• We met Barry¹ on Sheep Street who has been sleeping rough for a couple of years since he lost his business. He said that he was cold and asked if we could help. We went back to base and got him a sleeping bag and bought him a hot chocolate from Wetherspoons.
• Outside The Keys a lady thanked us for helping her with flip-flops a few years ago.
• We headed along the old Tramway, and we could see someone shining a torch onto the river and a reflection of movement on the water. We could not tell from where we were exactly what was going on, so we went over to investigate. When we got there, we found 2 fishermen, both from Solihull and one said that he has got a Facebook page where he shows people his catches. He had just caught a large pike and showed us the picture. They said that they have recently seen a black swan as well. We chatted with them for a while and then we carried on back into town.
• In Sheep Street a car pulled up and we were asked for lollipops by the driver and three passengers.
• One of the doormen had not much hair and no hat on, and we remarked on him needing a hat to which he said he wished he had one. We said we had a hat he could have and some gloves he could have to which he was surprised but very grateful. We had quite a philosophical conversation afterwards, he said he was a Christian and was happy to engage.

¹ Note: Name changed to protect privacy.

How we’ve been Cared for

It’s not just ourselves who care for others in our town, here’s how we’ve been cared for when on patrol.

• We walked back to Greenhill Street and went into Avon Spice initially for a warm up but the staff prevailed on us to have coffee even though the restaurant was busy.
• Mildred at Usha provided us with poppadums and mango sauce.
• Shortly after leaving MacDonald’s we received a ‘welfare’ call from CCTV. Because of the rides and stalls they were conscious that their sight lines from cameras was restricted and wanted to check that we were okay.
• We walked down Bridge Street which was now less busy and decided to take a break in MacDonald’s. As Barry was ordering our coffees one of the security guards insisted on paying for our drinks which was a lovely gesture.
• At about 21:50 it was time for a quick coffee at El Greco, where once again Flair was accommodating and offered us a place for a quick rest.
• We had a break in MacDonald’s, the server wouldn’t charge us for the drinks saying it was only fair as we do a lot out on the streets.

Prayer Points:

• • • For the teams out on Friday evenings Caring, Listening and Helping
    • For more Street Pastors to join the team and spread the load

Our Socials

We are continuing our series of posts on what makes our Street Pastors turn up and patrol our streets in rain, wind and shine. Please follow us and share our posts.

Street Pastors

Street Pastors come from right across the Christian community. Street Pastors are trained volunteers from local churches who care about their community and who patrol in teams of men and women on a Friday night, to care for, listen to and help people who are out on the streets.
A Street Pastor is someone who is a Christian and is part of a local church; concerned for society and their local community; willing to engage with people, whatever their perspective on life and wherever they hang out; happy to work in a team and in collaboration with other agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary; willing to undertake some training.
What Street Pastors are NOT is preachers or converters. Street Pastors are simply there to Care, Listen and Help all of those out in the night time economy without judgment or condemnation.
Why not come out on patrol as an observer and see what we do?
If you are interested in knowing more, contact our co-ordinator, Linda, by e-mail at stratforduponavon@streetpastors.org.uk.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind
	@StratfordStreetPastors		@spstratford
	streetpastors.org/locations/stratford-upon-avon		stratforduponavon@streetpastors.org.uk