BUDE street pastors are marking seven years since their establishment, celebrating years of helping those in the community and ensuring all are safe.

After returning from a mission on the Isle of Wight and talking to the former pastor of the Elim church, Roger Roland, a small group from Bude decided to try and raise interest amongst local churches and start a street pastor project in their town.

The movement is governed by the initiating organisation, Ascension Trust, based in London, and they require a formal management structure that involves the input of at least four local churches from different denominations before they will give a license to start the initiative.

Some months of talks between the initial management committee and many local churches passed, and a license was given to the Bude initiative. Following this, a launch evening was held to recruit volunteers at the Falcon Hotel on February 11, 2010.

The evening was a great success, with the Rev Les Isaac speaking, the founder of the street pastors, Inspector Roger Bartlett from the Christian Police Association, the mayor of Bude and others.

Over 20 volunteers were recruited to train for street work and a good prayer team that was essential to back the group.

Co-ordinator, Kev Hogarth, then arranged and managed a prescribed training programme of 16 units that would have street pastors on the streets for the May bank holiday in Bude.

The management team worked and prayed at raising funds to pay trainers and buy uniforms for pastors, formulating teams and picking team leaders, and approving policies and agreements that the group would adhere and work with.

On May 28, Ros Ede, co-ordinator of Torbay street pastors, commissioned Bude’s first 18 pastors to go on the streets of Bude and work with the youth project at Splash leisure centre.

The group still patrols weekly in Bude, and there have been many changes, but also many people and things have remained from the outset.

Pauline Goodson, from Bude Methodist Church, is still treasurer and prayer coordinator of the management team. Additionally, Jen Ward co-ordinates all of the statistics; Roy Smeeth and James Smith are from Chilsworthy Methodists; chairman, Colin Manning, is from Oceans Church; with Michelle Barker, secretary, from Coast Family Church.

The group also have several prayer partners and street pastors from the Methodist church, many of whom have been with the team from the beginning. A large amount of the group’s monthly income is from direct debits taken out by BMC members in the early years that help pay rent and other expenses.

Four teams of four street pastors still work in Bude on Saturday nights, sometimes until 4am on the following Sunday. They talk to people, door staff and the police; they offer first aid, and, where needed, offer flip-flops, water and the famous ‘lollies’ to all, along with a sympathetic ear and a caring attitude to everyone.

Some of the original 18 have now left and many have come through and gone, either leaving or moving to new areas, but the team are always looking for new volunteers to train and coach — there is always a need for new blood to care for Bude.

Prayer pastors are also desperately needed, as without prayer cover, the pastors do not go out on the streets and there are often only two prayer partners each week, giving no cover for sickness or other problems.

Seven years on and there have still been no injuries to street pastors, there is a continued reduction in crime on Saturdays, and a huge amount of glass, bottles and cans removed from the streets free of charge.

There are good relationships with people out at night and friendships have been developed with staff and taxi drivers too.

For those who are interested in becoming involved in this valuable work, contact Kev on 07960 581068.

There is also a Bude Street Pastors Facebook page, which lists the teams out each week, and updates the public on their work.

Kev said: “Here’s to the next seven or 20 years. Stay safe, Bude — we care.”