December 2, 2019 10.27 am This story is over 64 months old

Lincoln needs more street pastors to look after revellers and homeless

They have been unable to patrol every Friday after suffering a loss in volunteers
The team of volunteers help people in need on the streets of Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincoln has six new street pastors but still needs more volunteers to look after revellers and the homeless every Friday evening.

Over the past few months, low numbers have meant that the team has only been able to regularly patrol on Saturday evenings and on the last Friday of the month.

A recent £25,000 funding boost from Lincoln Methodist District and Circuit and the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner has helped bolster the team’s numbers.

The new pastors, who are traditionally only referred to by their Christian names are Roy, Peter, Corinna, Bea, Becca and Maggie.

Lincoln Street Pastors co-ordinator Teena Twelves said: “We have been successful in recruiting more pastors after visiting churches and community groups.

“We are delighted to welcome the new recruits, but we are still in need of more volunteers after suffering a reduction in numbers over the past few months.

“That has meant that we can only send a team out on the last Friday night of the month, instead of every Friday.”

Lincoln Street Pastors have provided a listening ear and support to revellers and the homeless out late at night for more than ten years.