Street pastors to hit the pavements of Camborne

12:27pm Monday 5th May 2008

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A pioneering new idea to take pastoral care onto the streets could soon be up and running in Camborne.

Churches Together in Camborne are aiming to set up a volunteer team of street pastors to engage with people out on the pavements of the town.

The idea was pioneered in London in 2003 by Reverend Les lie Issac and was designed as a practical response to problems in urban areas.

Rev Mike Firbank, vicar at Camborne Parish Church said: "It has not been done in Cornwall before although there are teams in major cities across the UK.

"We will be going out to provide pastoral care by listening caring and providing help where we can.

"There are many young people who feel excluded by society, street pastors takes practical hope to the pavement for these individuals."

He added the aim of the project is not to preach or evangelise.

The project will be run with the support local churches and community groups and in partnership with the police, councils and other agencies.

According to Rev Firbank, in Southwark, South London, a nine month police evaluation showed a 95 per cent drop in public order calls whenever the pastors were on the streets.

He said: "The police are 100 per cent supportive and we would not be doing it unless everyone was behind the idea."

The team behind the project in Camborne has their first meeting this month when founder Rev Issacs will speak about how to get the project off the ground.