Diary Friday 2nd June 2017

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Busy, busy day. I had to return to the welfare office today for a pre-interview class for potentially taking work in welfare coaching itself. The screening which I was told would last about an hour, amounted to talking myself and a dozen other conscripts about how to fill in the online application forms and gave us tips on completing a very long psychometric personality test to see if we are suitable for the position offered. It was nothing I couldn’t learn just from seeing the vacancy website itself. With the deadline for completing the application process I knew I could leave it a few days yet before doing it. (I have in fact tried before under similar mandatory pressure and failed then too). Fortunately the screening took only half the time predicted so I did a little shopping and then headed to the community centre. I did some online job searching on their computers before the weekly Friday afternoon talk. This week, Dave Brown (who works as a volunteer at the community centre) spoke of his main work, as a street pastor co-ordinator for the city centre of Preston. Street Pastoring was started by the Church Of England in 2003 in the wake of the Brixton Riots in London that year. It is not an evangelical movement, The mostly volunteer pastors go out in the cities and towns of the UK at night ensuring that homeless people get warm tea, coffee or some food (they do not offer cash) and offer assistance to drunks, or people who are looking unhappy. If girls get drunk and unable to walk in their high heels, Street pastors give them a free pair of cheap plastic flip-flop sandals to help protect their feet. They also offer advice and support to street-walkers (prostitutes). The work of Street pastors has gained them much praise from the police and other emergency services. Street Pastors were working in Preston from 2008. They are now an international movement. Dave told several lovely stories about people he has helped over the years. One homeless chap who eventually got housed sometimes revisits and sleeps rough just to remind himself of the hard times he faced and the kindness of strangers. He found it easier to talk to people then than now he is better off. If I have a criticism it is the exclusive church control of the street pasturing activity, as many non-Christians and even irreligious people would happily help those in need in this way too, but there is no doubt many people have benefited and in some cases even survived due to their tireless, selfless support. Interesting talk, after which attendees were given food, some of which we were free to bring home with us too. Arthur Chappell