Pastors are there with a listening ear

Dec 23 2008 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

STREET Pastor Michael Archibald doesn’t have a problem dealing with over-enthusiastic festive revellers as Perth is “one of the safest places in Scotland”.

But Michael told the PA that many Christmas drinkers – such as those seen in the Fair City on ‘Black Friday’ – may be harbouring darker thoughts than usual, especially for this time of year.

“We were out last week and there didn’t seem to be as many people in the town as there normally are,” he said.

“But we have seen a big increase in the number of people who are out having their last drink because they have recently lost their job.

“It is quite depressing to see, and it’s definitely happening more than I’ve ever seen before.

“People come up to us and start telling us all their problems. For us, it’s not about providing an answer to them, but more about listening to them and comforting them,” he said.

There are currently 25 street pastors who operate in the centre of Perth on one weekend every month.

New recruits have bolstered the scheme and it now takes place on both a Friday and Saturday until the early hours.

Around 20 other towns and cities across Scotland also utilise the ever-enhancing scheme.

The pastors dispense everything from practical things like flip-flops, blankets – and even the odd cup of soup – to an invaluable ear and, occasionally, a shoulder to cry on.

All this, in conjunction with Tayside Police and Perth and Kinross Council, is in an effort to ensure weekend nights out are memorable for the right reasons.

Recent figures analysing the initiative in England have shown that the pastors’ human touch can cut crime by up to 80%.

But despite this crime-cutting element, Michael insists he’s never felt threatened whilst on duty.

“Most of the time people will just approach us, the revellers will come up and say this or that, but they are always friendly and there has never been any trouble.

“There are about 2000 street pastors across the whole of the UK, some of whom have been operating for several years, and not one of them has ever been injured.

“This is partly to do with the training they receive before they start.

“The pastors are told what to say to people in certain situations and how to move around in a big group so that everybody is covering each other.

“But I think it’s also to do with the people.

“We’ve been in Perth for nine months now and I can honestly say that I don’t think it’s that violent at all.

“I know there’s not some of the serious cases here that there are in places like Aberdeen and Glasgow, and that incidences obviously do happen from time to time, but I haven’t seen anything whilst out at night that has worried me.

“I think Perth could be one of the safest places in Scotland,” he said.

Michael, who had a hand in training nine new pastors last week, added that they could become a regular fixture on the streets of Perth with only a few more additions.

“Anyone can be a street pastor as long as they are over 18 and are involved in their local church.

“There is a Christian element to what we do, although we don’t push it upon people, we listen to them

“The Perth group is made up of six different churches, so it doesn’t matter which one people go to, anyone can get involved.

“If we get a few more people on board the we would be able to go into the town each and every Friday and Saturday, not just once every month,” he said.

Michael has asked that anyone wishing to become a street pastor contact him on: michael.archibald@googlemail.com