Street Pastors working through the night to keep Notts safe
A volunteer-led scheme part-funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden helped provide an extra layer of safety for new students visiting Nottingham city centre during Freshers' Week.
The Nottingham Street Pastors work throughout the year on Friday and Saturday nights to help reduce antisocial behaviour, promote community cohesion and safeguard people who may find themselves vulnerable or at risk.
Their work often involves simple but important acts of support, with volunteers carrying bottled water and spare footwear for people who need a little extra help at the end of a night out.
They also keep an eye out for discarded glass bottles on pavements, emptying them safely before putting them in bins to help reduce hazards for pedestrians.
Street Pastors Nottingham is a volunteer-led initiative set up by the Malt Cross Trust aimed at improving public safety and supporting vulnerable people across the city.
Since launching in 2008, trained volunteers have been a familiar and calming presence on Nottingham’s streets every Friday and Saturday night.
Working closely with Nottinghamshire Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service, St John Ambulance, Nottingham City Council and other partners, Street Pastors
The initiative is supported through funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire’s Community Chest grants, which focus on community-led projects responding directly to local needs.
The Safer Nottinghamshire Together Grants form part of the Commissioner’s wider programme of investment in community safety, alongside initiatives including the Situational Crime Prevention Fund and the Safer Streets Summer Initiative.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: “Street Pastors play a vital role in helping to keep people safe when they are enjoying Nottingham’s night-time economy.
"Their volunteers provide a reassuring presence, practical support and, importantly, a friendly face for anyone who may need help.
“Fresher’s Week is a particularly busy time for the city, with thousands of young people experiencing Nottingham’s nightlife for the first time.
"The work of Street Pastors, alongside our policing, ambulance and other community partners, helps make sure people can enjoy themselves while knowing there is support available if they need it.
“This is exactly why community-led initiatives are so important. By investing in organisations that understand and respond to local needs, we can bring partners together and make a real difference to public safety across Nottinghamshire.”
Street Pastors’ presence is particularly valuable during periods such as Fresher’s Week, when large numbers of young people are discovering Nottingham’s night-time economy for the first time.
Their volunteers provide a friendly face, practical assistance and an additional layer of reassurance, helping people get home safely while working alongside partners across the city to create a safer and more welcoming Nottingham at night.
Street Pastor Neil MacLaren said: "We know that Fresher's Week is a one off every year where people are exploring their new home for the first time, so we are here to give them that reassurance that they are safe but help is at hand if they need it.
"We get a lot of feedback from families and friends of individuals we help, which makes it all worthwhile.
"Either we've all been there once upon a time or we've all got relatives who could have done with the type of support we offer, so it means a lot to be able to make a difference."