Belfast Street Pastors
Moni Wilson, Co-ordinator Belfast Street Pastors, gave an informative talk to the Club Monday 13 March on her work with Street Pastors in Belfast City area highlighting the difficulties still extant on our streets for teenagers and the dangers attaching to drink and drugs.
Street Pastors were pioneered in London in 2003, there are now 11,000 volunteers in the UK who play an active part in 270 towns and cities across the UK. Similar to and working closely with SOS NI, Street Pastors are trained volunteers from different churches who patrol the streets in teams of 3 or 4 from 11pm-3am on a Friday or Saturday night to care for, listen to, help in a practical way people out on the streets.
Every night is different but often they: pick up bottles and glasses which could be used as weapons; give out flip-flops to girls in high heels who have sore feet; help people get taxis/other transport – sometimes staying with them until someone collects them; help with simple first aid; point people to other appropriate services; help prevent anti-social incidents – they are not trained to physically break up fights, but with humour and wisdom, can often help diffuse what might otherwise become a nasty incident. They engage with the young people and offer advice such as always pre-pay a taxi and always have someone with them. She showed a video (click on image to view) which illustrates their work and ethos.
She highlighted an incident where they came across a girl on her own who was very agitated and high on drugs but would not admit it. They tried to talk her into getting into a taxi to no avail but 20 minutes later she calmed down and agreed. However a man came along trying to get to her who she was obviously terrified of. Eventually he moved off and she freely admitted that she had taken drugs and he was her dealer – they informed the police. She pointed out that the dangers are mainly from alcohol and drugs or they are from outside Belfast, have no idea of what is going on and get separated from their friends. They work closely with the police (they have a radio link to Musgrave Street), SOS (who they meet every 2nd month to co-ordinate not duplicate) and also work with different churches, Belfast City Council and Belfast City Management.
She concluded that they are hoping to extend their work to residential areas not just the City centre noting they will be working all day in the Holy Land on St Patrick's Day. Her interesting talk was well received by those present and she also showed the video above which illustrates their work and ethos.