Ashford Street Pastors
In 2009 when local people were inspired to pray for Ashford's young people and the town's night life, plans were made to set up a team of Street Pastors. Now you'll find the pastors bringing peace to the streets of Ashford town centre two nights a month (usually the last Friday and two weeks before that date.) Eight churches are involved in the scheme with backing from Ashford Borough Council and Kent Police. For more information click here or e-mail ashford@streetpastors.org.uk.
Latest Reports
Street Pastors: Terry, Sarah, Patsy, Julian, Fred, Eric, Pauline, Anne, Rob, DavePrayer Pastors: Mary, Lee, Peter
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "New Year's Eve, and the intrepid explorers (aka regular Ashfordians) of Ashford Street Pastors made their way out into town to care, listen and help.
From 10-11pm we had one team out, then later two teams, and finally three! Initially we circled the town centre, and following a report from Town Control, were looking for a couple of young (underage) intoxicated females. The two young ladies in question were eventually found by the police and taken home by a parent.
The town was again blissfully quiet, and we were able to patrol and pray as we strolled the streets. We gave plasters and flip-flops to a young girl, persuaded a young lady who was making a great nuisance of herself to get a taxi home, and wrapped up and calmed down a young lady who was cold and upset after being ejected from a club. We prayed for a family that was having a public disagreement, a young student hoping to go to Australia, and another couple who asked for prayer.
We also had a great discussion on theology with one particular person and spoke with a man who we have met previously and is waiting for a career opportunity to come through. He was clearly cold but declined a space blanket and spoke for a good while! Later we were able to keep a watchful eye on a vulnerable young lady leaving a club and finished the evening in prayer by our usual 4am home time!
9 pairs of flip flops, 2 bottles of water, 2 foil blankets given out; 48 bottles & glasses collected."
Street Pastors: Dave, Trish, Pam, GarethPrayer Pastors: Mary and Janice
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "Despite it being the Friday before Christmas, the night of 23rd December started very quietly with some bars closing early. It wasn't as busy and Christmasy as we had expected! Only later on were the clubs full, with queues and a one-out, one-in policy.
We were blessed by some good conversations with various people and groups of people throughout the evening. Specifically, we were asked by the medic from one of the clubs to take care of a young lady who was very drunk in the club. We sat with her outside for a while then managed to walk her over to the station, where it was arranged for someone to pick her up. This took a considerable time but it gave the young lady an opportunity to talk (and she needed to), as she has some very serious issues in her life which need our prayers.
Towards the end of the evening a man was seriously injured in a fight around the back of one of the clubs. The incident was dealt with by the police and a medic, whilst we were standing by. We trust that our visible presence makes a difference on the streets and many times we are told, especially by the ladies, that they are happy and feel safer when we are around, especially when the clubs are closing at the end of the night.
2 pairs of flip flops, 2 bottles of water, 1 foil blanket given out; 47 bottles & glasses collected!"
Street Pastors: Dave, Eric, Trish, Gareth, Rob (Fred and Pauline observing)Prayer Pastors: Mary, Janice, Rosie
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "The night started very quietly with some bars closing early. We started as usual meeting and greeting all the eating places and the door staff in the clubs and pubs, that way everyone was aware that were on duty. The police were out in force and very supportive. There was the usual friendly reception from most people we met.
One club started early by evicting a troublesome drunk by 10.30pm and we soon met a group of five men in the High Street, of whom one was rather drunk, and later split from the group staggering on his way to a club. There were also five nice young ladies out celebrating with a friend who is expecting a baby on Dec 27th. They were sober and refreshingly sensible! Later there was a gentleman a little worse for wear on a bench in the lower High Street. Both teams checked on him and spent some time talking. Town Control also requested that we kept an eye on him.
Before too long we found a man, 'C'; very drunk, sick and vulnerable lying on the grass on the corner of Elwick Road and Station Road. We spent some considerable time with him, and as it was very cold we wrapped him in a foil blanket and eventually walked him up to the High Street to help sober him up. No taxi would take him but finally we helped find a phone number and contacted his girlfriend. She came with a friend in a car and collected him from the top of Bank Street.
Later we heard from Town Control about a group of lads who the Police were interested in locating. They soon came past us and were quite abusive and looking for trouble by throwing chips! It was said they had taken drugs. We called the situation in to our Prayer Pastors and the police and two of the young men were arrested.
We wrapped up 'J' who was on the wall outside a club and very cold, sick and unable to get home to Herne Bay. After administering a foil blanket and lots of tissues, contact was made with 'J's mum who said she was on her way and we stayed in attendance until she arrived.
We had a long conversation with 'C' whose parents are Jehovah Witnesses and helped a young lady who had earlier got on the wrong side of a broken glass and cut her foot and leg badly. We encouraged her not to walk on it, suspecting that there may still be glass in the wound, even after a field dressing in a club. Eventually we talked the girls into getting a cab!
Bottles and Glasses picked up - 40, Flip-flops given out - 2 pairs
Bottles of water given out - 2, Foil blankets - 2."
Street Pastors: Anne, Tom, Julian, Terry, Sarah, Lesley (Janet observing)Prayer Pastors: Patsy, Janice, Peter
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "Our first November duty began with an unfortunate bang as one team witnessed and then called the police to a road traffic accident. No-one was physically hurt but there was some dispute over who was to blame! Our other team began with good conversation with door staff around the town and reports of birthday groups out and in high spirits.
Soon we had the immense privilege of speaking with a young man, 'S' and his two female friends 'L' and 'J' outside a pub. They were very interested in our work and asked lots of questions about the church. After a little while we moved on but were pursued by 'S' who wanted to speak privately. It turned out that he served in the armed forces and two years after finishing is still suffering almost constant flashbacks to the genuinely aweful things he has seen and done. He feels there is no one he can talk with, not even his parents and he fills his time with a great deal of work and the gym just to keep his mind occupied with other things. He was really grateful that we took the time to care and listen, but his pain was obvious when his starter question was 'I've done some horrible things, am I going to go to hell?' We were quick to reassure Scott that the whole message of Christianity is forgiveness, and the grace offered to every person through Jesus' death and resurrection. Practically 'S' wanted advice on counselling and a local church, so we gave him a contact card and encouraged him to seek help.
Later on we were equally astounded to meet 'R' and his girlfriend who we had encountered a few weeks earlier along with their friend 'D'. 'D' had suffered a debilitating knee condition for years and we offered to pray for him. So we were keen to find out how 'D' was, and 'R' said very simply, 'he's all better now'!
As the evening moved on, our other team came across 'J', a rough sleeper in his 50's who reported that he had recently come down to Ashford from London, where he had been beaten up. His mother lives locally and he has an appointment coming up with a local homelessness charity. We found him a warm location to bed down for the night.
As folks began heading home we crossed paths with a young lady who we met a number of months ago. She was very excited to report that she still uses the flip flops we gave to her as slippers, and was insistent on stopping and talking with 'the Jesus people' - even though her other half was more interested in the lure of a kebab!
We also spent a good while with an older gentleman 'K' who is known to a number of the team but is now in a bad way. There was 'J', a young man trying (and failing) to get cash out of ATM to get to Folkestone; he had picked a fight with some local people and clearly needed protection. We walked him back to the club he had been at and reunited him with his friends. Also 'A', drunk and ill and in need of a taxi, a group of young ladies impressed with our work and grateful for flip-flops, and a young lady, 'J' who was very angry and aggressive towards an ex boyfriend.
We gave out 10 pairs of flip flops, 3 bottles of water and 1 foil blanket, and collected 20 bottles and glasses and 2 half bricks! What a night!"
Street Pastors: Dave, Rob, Gareth, Eric, Lesley (Clare as an observer/photographer)Prayer Pastors: Mary, Janice, Patsy, Helen & Barbara
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "This is the story from end of July duty...
Early on the Street Pastors met a young man, 'J' who had been made homeless on his birthday about three months earlier and had been sleeping rough when he couldn't find a friend to put him up. We made some enquires and fixed him up with an appointment the following day at Porchlight.
We encountered a lady in distress over her partner's behaviour; he was supposed to be looking after their child but had decided to go out. There was also a small scale fight outside a club but this soon calmed down whilst we stood alongside and prayed.
Later on, and during the quieter parts of the evening we made a point of visiting the more remote parts of the town like the station underpass and foot bridge to South Ashford.
Back at one of the clubs, a lady had a badly cut foot and required first aid. She was with two friends and they were all very grateful for the assistance we gave and wanted to make a donation to Street Pastors! It was by this time very busy outside the club (closing time) and there was plenty for us to do, but it was trouble free and highly enjoyable!
On the way back up to the High Street a group of young men and one girl were causing a bit of a commotion. Two of the men were about to start fighting, so we spent some time with them and they seemed to have calmed down so we made our way!
7 pairs of flip flops and 2 bottles of water given out. 26 bottles and glasses, and one steel fork collected!"
Street Pastors: Tom, Anne, Trevor, Sarah, TerryPrayer Pastors: Patsy, Lesley, Linda, Peter
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "What's a pirate's favourite letter? Rrrrrrgh! Our first July duty began with a bang as we came across Captain Jack Sparrow and the wobbly pirates, out on a birthday bash!
In the early hours we had good conversation with a group of young people, pub goers and local door staff too. Later we encountered 'D', a gentleman with a past history of homelessness and possible mental health issues. His situation was not bad on this occasion so we saw him on his way up the High Street.
Around 1am there were two young ladies looking for a local B&B, but after hearing their story we persuaded them to go home! Then as the night moved passed 2am, the practical period began...a young lady had twisted her leg outside a club and so we called an ambulance; she was soon happily being hoisted onto a gurney! Close to finishing time there was a large crowd of party goers heading back down East Hill with lots of loud shouting about fights, but nothing came of it.
Then however, a raw nerve was touched in a few heated words exchanged by a young lady 'E' and a young man. The young lady in particular was later willing to tell us of her own tender age, a two year old son and of escaping from an abusive relationship. This underlying pain was certainly manifested in her words and actions towards others, and we were grateful that E eventually calmed down and was able to share what was going on with her.
All in all we were grateful for much praise and interest throughout the night; and for those specific moments of caring, listening and helping that were afforded us.
8 pairs of flip flops and 1 foil blanket given out. 5 bottles, 6 glasses, 1 plastic pistol and 1 pair of abandoned stilettos collected!
God bless!"
Street Pastors: Gareth, Pam, Trevor, Sarah, Julian, Terry, TomPrayer Pastors: Esther, Rosie, Patsy, Louise
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "Our duty on Friday 24th June began gently, and this we took as a blessing in disguise...the lack of large crowds on the streets at the start of the evening enabled us to have some longer and really excellent conversations with door staff, proprietors and punters.
One our friends at Ashford Grill had a housing need and asked for prayer with this. We also gave him some contact details for Ashford Borough Council housing. We spoke to a new doorman who thanked us for being out, and by 11pm all seemed quiet - one club was enjoying the company of just eight customers! The owner of Nazrin take-away was very keen to engage with us and over the course of ten minutes or so we put Ashford to rights; it's not like it used to be (apparently!). The owners of Platform 5 wine bar were similarly hospitable & we shared a drink together & a good conversation about Ashford's nightlife and business in the town centre.
A little later one team met a young man who had been thrown out of a club and felt aggrieved. He was very angry but seemed to be in control and was in the process of calling the police. This turned out to be a good lesson in teamwork as we later found out that our other team had seen the young man taking his aggression out on door staff who had themselves contacted the police and were grateful to see an arrest made.
On our way to the Stour Centre we met two men who said hello and expressed their appreciation for our work. One said that he was going to out to find a woman to take home for the night. The other quickly suggested that his friend shouldn't speak like that as we wouldn't agree as Christians. The first gentleman then said that if Christianity was more real and allowed people to have sex before marriage he would seriously consider becoming a Christian.
At the Stour Centre undercroft we enjoyed a game of 'slaps' (yes it is a real game!) when invited to participate by some of the young people hanging out there with their cars. Needless to say we lost and felt the shame, and the sting! At the same time our other team met a man outside of a bar who asked for prayer. As the evening continued, we came across a young man who was having great trouble rolling a cigarette; he asked us what we stood for and we explained. In response he explained that he is an atheist and is struggling to make sense of things to do with God in his mind.
Soon we met a gentleman who explained that he had been living in his car for two months prior to being arrested and put in prison for non-payment of a bill. On release he had come straight back to Ashford, found his car to be missing and now has nowhere to go. He has no family or friends in Ashford, and his girlfriend is back in Lithuania. We called the housing emergency number but found that the gentleman did not fit the criteria for vulnerability and Town Control then explained that he had been released from prison that day and had spent his money on alcohol. We wrapped him in foil blankets, gave water, showed him to Ashford Gateway and then to a warm place to sleep.
We also came across a young man who was a little drunk and explained that he had graduated as a researcher but could not find a job in his field as he seems to be over qualified. He is now working in an insurance call centre and asked for prayer to get to grips with 'the whole God thing.' He said he has lots of questions but cannot verbalise them and gets frustrated.
There were some minor incidents around the pubs and clubs, but nothing that we needed to be too involved in and as the crowds dispersed, the town centre buzzed with young people buying food and laughing and joking with no feeling of trouble. One young lady was particularly drunk but was in the company of friends whom we observed for a short while.
We collected 21 bottles and 2 glasses, distributed 10 pairs of flip flops, 2 bottles of water and 2 foil blankets.
All in a night's work!"
Street Pastors: Lesley, Anne, Dave, Rob, Eric, Terry, TriciaPrayer Pastors: Peter, Mary, Janice, Esther
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "Our first engagements on Friday 10th June were with three different groups of young people; some returning from the fair in Victoria Park, some hanging out at the skate park and some enjoying the shelter of the Stour Centre undercroft. The long, late spring evening meant there were a good few young people still out and about come 10pm!
One team met a gentleman who it appeared had self-discharged from hospital and was very vulnerable. We stayed with B as long as possible before the Police arrived to assist further. Both teams continued circuiting the town until after 1am, enjoying a number of good conversations and interest in our work. After 1am the alcohol intake of many people became much more clearly visible and our action levels went up!
We calmed down two young men outside one of the clubs, and attended to a man who was drunk but just about conscious, despite appearances otherwise. One 18 year old was carried out of a club by door staff and was eventually collected by his mother after the Street Pastors managed to extract her phone number from the young gentleman!
A man managed to fall backward off a wall and bang his head; so we attended with foil blanket and bodily support until an ambulance arrived. Later a team encountered a young lady being pestered by two males as she tried to walk home. The men fitted an earlier description of two people causing trouble so we intervened and separated the lady from her uninvited company.
Outside one of the clubs we provided first aid for a bloody lip after a fight inside the establishment. One of the victim's two companions was intent on making his friend feel the pain of failing to prevent the assault but the team stepped in and convinced him to calm down. The result was a big hug between would-be enemies and the comment to one of the Street Pastors, "You know, you talk a lot of sense."
A further challenge came in preventing a young lady celebrating her 18th birthday from beating up a male she described as a relative. In the end, she accepted some flip flops and a foil blanket. There was also first aid for a young lady who twisted her ankle and skills of persuasion enlisted to make a call home to mum for a lift.
There was again a moment of stepping in to stop a fight before it started, and later on the privilege of supporting two ladies, one of whom was very drunk, to stay out of the road and walk home. Both teams reported that they met two particular men during the evening who had recently suffered the loss of a friend.
Another "quiet" night out and about in Ashford! What an amazing opportunity to love and serve."
Street Pastors: Trevor, Sarah, Eric, Terry, Tricia, TomPrayer Pastors: Rosie, Barbara, Louise, Lesley
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "Our duty on Friday 27th May started with a bang as one team, whilst chatting with door staff and punters in the High Street were verbally accosted by a gentleman on a bike! He proceeded to ride round and round in (somewhat wobbly) circles shouting 'God is dead!' We weren't too concerned (knowing quite the opposite to be true), but were touched when one doorman radioed in to Town Control to ask for our guest to be moved along! We also had a great conversation with him (the doorman, not the noisy biker) and are generally getting to know those who work Ashford's nightspots increasingly well.
Doing the rounds of the pubs and clubs we bumped into lots of regulars, and enjoyed maintaining these contacts and building recognition in the town.
Around midnight we were engaged with a group of lads who were quite drunk and used all our powers of persuasion to encourage them to head home early.
Come 2am we met a man around the bandstand whose speech was extremely slurred and who didn't seem able to move very far. We asked CCTV to keep an eye, and gladly, soon after he managed to take a taxi home.
Shortly after, the theme of our night turned to answered prayer...two separate groups of people in the lower High Street appeared to be not too far from bust-ups. We called the situations in to base and asked God to bring a peaceful resolution. Thankfully one group resolved their differences amongst themselves whilst the others benefitted from a young lady, known to them, giving them a constructive earful! Both incidents cleared up within a few short minutes of us calling in to base.
The lower High Street was a hive of good conversations, Liquid saw a great contact with some young French lads who were intrigued by the Street Pastors idea, and Hustle was full of activity and excellent engagement with the owner and DJ in particular.
Another night full of the privilege of being a part of people's lives; showing love, and practically helping those in need. Bring on the next time!
Bottles and Glasses picked up=21, Flip-flops given out=8pairs, Bottles of water given out=3, Foil blankets=2."
Street Pastors: Terry, Dave, Julian, Lesley, RobPrayer Pastors: Peter, Mary, Patsy, Janice
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "Friday 13th May 2011 was a very challenging and exciting night!
Our first shift was quiet, but after that we found many young people who needed our assistance and support...
We had some lively and friendly banter with a group of around six teenagers outside Debenhams.
Three ladies and three lads outside the Phoenix were very interested in our work, this was a good discussion.
We had a chat with a resident Councillor in the Churchyard; he had experienced problems earlier that evening with people banging on his door as they ran past. He informed us that his neighbour is also now a Councillor and that they were pleased to see us out on the streets in Ashford; in turn we said that it is good to have two Councillors supporting our work and we always make a point of patrolling the Church Yard.
We spoke to two young people from the Ashford Baptist youth club.
There was a group of cars parked by the skate park; but they drove away as we approached! However we did get the opportunity to speak with some young people by the vents under the Stour Centre.
There was a young lady sitting on the wall outside Hustle, and shivering; she had been separated from her boyfriend in the club and was waiting for him to come out, so we gave her a foil blanket.
A young man, 'D' was evicted from the club very drunk, and the doorman sat him on a wall, so we wrapped him in a blanket, gave him some water and kept him awake. After some considerable time and with some help from a friend we managed to contact his mum and get her to come out to pick him up (she was not best pleased with him!) The police gave us a sick bag for him to use in the car.
A member of staff from Hustle told us of a very distressed lady sitting out of sight over the road on the underpass steps; she just wanted to go home but had no money and has lost contact with her friends. She had just found out that her mum has cancer and did not want to worry her. We gave another blanket and eventually found her friends, just as we were trying to negotiate with a taxi driver to get her to Folkestone.
By now our Prayer Team was very busy!
Two ladies a little older than the average were out celebrating a birthday and were grateful for some flip-flops.
A lady from Folkestone was rather drunk and wanted to go home alone, but not with her boyfriend. After a while she got a lift home from a friend.
Around 3.45am we were in the lower High Street when two of us spotted a person inside a shop; the lights were out and it looked very suspicious! We called the police and watched the front of the store whilst the police entered through the back. The back door had been forced and a robbery had been in progress but the offender had fled!
There was young man sitting, crying on the edge of the car park by Ashford Baptist; he lives in Kennington and his sister has just died, he said he would walk home when he was ready.
Throughout the evening we had excellent relations and co-work from staff from the food outlets, door staff and the police.
Bottles and Glasses picked up =16, Flip-flops given out = 3 pairs, Bottles of water given out =5, Foil blankets =4
What a night!!!"
Street Pastors: Tom, Gareth, Sarah, Eric, Tricia, Julian (& Tim observing)Prayer Pastors: Rosie, Patsy
Ashford Street Pastors Coordinator Tom reports: "On Friday 29th April our intrepid explorers ventured out into the joyously unpredictable night life of Ashford town. Here is who & what we encountered...
Very early on, we heard of someone having what seemed to be an epileptic fit in the High Street. One team swiftly attended the scene & were able to physically support the man & give a foil blanket before an ambulance arrived to take over.
Our other team commenced a circuit of the town, engaging with door staff & food outlet proprietors & saying at least a 'good evening' to every person who passed by. On route we met two Italian young ladies who were a little lost & confused by the bus timetabling; so we called a cab & saw them safely in.
Taking the opportunity of a different direction, we headed down to the Stour Centre undercroft & there met & talked for some time with a group of young men (20s) who were just hanging out together. They were fascinated by the fact that we are volunteers & asked lots of questions about Street Pastors, church & how we live as Christians. They also shared some of their own life experiences & we promised to remember them.
Later on we came across a young man slumped & very asleep on a bench in the lower High Street. There appeared not to be too much we could do at that stage, so we called Town Control to keep an eye on him.
We headed up to New Rents & were joyfully accosted by some high-spirited Man United fans who soon decided to serenade our Eric as if he were their beloved Eric Cantona! We also chatted with a man who was sad to share that in these times he is not happy about letting his young daughter go & play out of his sight.
Then a call came in to return to the man on the bench who, it seemed, was not improving! By the time we were arrived, an ambulance had turned up to sort out a cut to the head, sustained after he slipped off his seat.
Later we heard of a possible fight in the train station car park, but otherwise the night drew to a peaceful end. Never before had we seen the clubbers head up for their 3.30am kebabs in such orderly fashion; & then proceed to sit down on the benches, eat up & go home! A really pleasant surprise!
27 bottles & glasses picked up, 2 bottles of water given out, 1 blanket distributed."
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