During December there were:
- 2 Friday night patrols, 2 Saturday night patrols and a short Christmas Eve patrol
- 5 Patrols totalling 23 hours of cover involving 15 Street Pastors
- 9 pairs of flip-flops given and 16 bottles of water
- 440 lollies and Love Hearts
Here are some of the ways Street Pastors cared, listened and helped in December:
- Cleared signs and traffic cones out of the centre of the road
- Stayed with a vulnerable lady while she waited for a taxi
- Cared for a young lady that was upset
- Attempted to mediate between two unhappy young men
Street Pastors cleared away some road signs and traffic cones that had mysteriously
moved themselves into the centre of the road during the night in Wantage.
One of our teams stayed with a vulnerable young lady while she waited for a taxi and another team spent time with a young lady that had been upset by a group of lads. Again, we stayed with her until she was safely on her way home in a taxi.
Wantage and Grove were quiet on the Friday before Christmas (often called “Black Friday”). Three Street Pastors patrolled on Christmas Eve in Wantage. The town was very busy with lots of people enjoying a night out before the big day ahead. Apart from a small disagreement between two young men the evening was good natured and fun. Unfortunately, due to sickness, we were unable to patrol on New Year’s Eve.
Thank you to everyone who supported our stall at the Dickensian Evening at the beginning of December and especially to those that gave donations there and at pubs around Wantage later in December while we sang carols. We are also grateful for a recently received grant from Oxfordshire County Council and donations from Wantage and Grove Lions, Wantage Christian Fellowship and Wantage Community Church Combined Service, Wantage Methodist Benevolent Fund and an anonymous online donor – thank you for your support.
Best wishes from all of us at Wantage & Grove Street Pastors for 2019.