A MAGNIFICENT seven band of new street pastors have been signed up to bolster the ranks of the voluntary service in Inverclyde.
A special service was held in Hope Community Church in Greenock, where the new recruits were commissioned alongside the recommissioning of a further two existing pastors.
All of them will be out on the streets of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock in the months and years ahead, to 'listen, care and help', the charity says.
The service was attended by local dignitaries and emergency service personnel.
With contributions from Inverclyde’s Provost, Drew McKenzie, and from Police Scotland Sergeant Scott Clark, the pastors were commissioned and recommissioned by Greenock man Chris Jewell, who is the chief executive of Ascension Trust Scotland.
The charity enables and encourages Street Pastor initiatives across Scotland.
There are volunteers now out regularly on the streets of 26 towns and cities across the country, with more locations planned.
Inverclyde Street Pastors co-ordinator, Alistair McAlees, said: "This was a great occasion as we look to grow the number of street pastors in Inverclyde.
"Street pastors operate in association with their local council and local police force.
"It was heartening to hear of their gratitude for what we do as a group of local trained Christians from across the various denominations with a heart to be out on the streets in all weathers bringing practical help and listening ears."
The street pastors service first came to Inverclyde back in 2010.
An initial group of 12 people supported by Inverclyde Christian Initiative started patrols and since then volunteers have been out on the streets between 10pm to 4am at weekends.
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The group work hard at keeping people safe, providing thermal blankets for individuals they encounter who are cold, and simply chatting to people who may be vulnerable.
They have given out over thousands of pairs of flip flops to revellers with sore feet and removed over thousands of glasses and bottles from the street.
A rail pastors service was introduced in 2017 and they recently returned to trains on local lines after a three-year gap caused by the pandemic.
More information about the street pastors service is available from Alistair by emailing inverclyde@streetpastors.org.uk or by calling 07740201853.
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