Join our membership community
for voluntary organisations in Scotland
Membership directory
Moray Street & School Pastors
- Membership number 9227
- Charity registered in Scotland SC043649
Street Pastors are volunteers from different churches who care about the safety and well-being of their community. We come in all shapes and sizes and are known for being a peaceful and practical help on the night time streets and a caring listening and helpful presence in our communities. We are an approachable and non-judgmental team, looking after anyone who is in need of support, uniquely identifiable by our uniforms, our caps and our bags. Working together with local authorities, registered services, the local police, local businesses, and often local bars, pubs, and clubs, we practically help vulnerable people, who are under the influence of drink or drugs, or homeless, or disorientated by mental illness, or young, or lost, or lonely. We help people on the streets, and other public places by giving guidance, and sign-posting to other available support services.
During the patrol, street pastors engage with all folk who may be out in pubs, clubs, and bars, usually having a good time. They also engage with people who, for whatever reason, find themselves sleeping rough on the street (in Elgin it's usually because they are intoxicated rather than homeless), and everyone in between, who just want a chat. We received a grant for a safe zone bus and we hope with additional funding to expand the use of this safe zone vehicle to public and school events and other public events such as fairs and community events. Additional funding will allow greater use and cover costs of the mini bus for servicing and general maintenance.
School Pastors are willing and dedicated volunteers from local churches who have a passion for supporting young people and also school staff and the wider community relating to local schools. The aim of school pastors is to listen to the needs of school pupils and also staff with a particular focus on each individuals mental health needs and to listen to each individual concerns or worries. School Pastors seek to be capable guardians who are able to perform simple acts of listening and to encourage students to realise their opinions and needs are valued and their mental health needs and issues are important and not any kind of weakness. Being a non-judgmental presence means school pastors provide a unique listening and active encouraging support mechanism as well as an extra and vital set of eyes and ears.
School pastors have partnerships with organisations such as Kintsugi Hope and YFC as well as local organisations with a particular focus on mental health and well being which will help to achieve the ultimate goal to see young people thrive and it is hoped further outreach can be achieved with use of the safe zone bus which with additional funding will allow a greater spread of outreach to community’s and schools.
Links
If you work for this organisation, you can sign up for a My SCVO account to gain access to member benefits