Town pastors

As Christians, Town Pastors help and show concern to anyone who needs assistance when they are out in the evening. They are independent from the police but are supported by the Night Safe Partnership and contribute to the safety of everyone who is out in town.

Its main aim is simply to serve people, regardless of their faith or background, showing concern and offering practical help in a non-judgemental and unconditional way.

Town Pastors work as part of a team in collaboration with the police and Ipswich Borough Council, and seek to be a positive influence, principally on the streets of the town centre and other nightlife areas.

On average, each Town Pastor is expected to be out one night a month. They wear a uniform of sweatshirt, yellow jacket and baseball cap and, for reasons of personal safety, are monitored by CCTV in the town centre area and linked in to the Town link radio system.

They go out in pairs, normally six people at a time, and operate every Friday and Saturday night throughout the year, from 10pm to 4am.

All Town Pastors undergo a full training programme before becoming part of the team, covering such issues as core values, roles and responsibilities, the power of prayer, personal safety and conflict management, and drug and alcohol awareness.

Town Pastors currently operate in eight towns in Suffolk on a Friday and Saturday night including Ipswich, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge.

Without prayer the Town Pastors would not go out. If you are interested in finding out more, visit the Town Pastor website training page.