Simon Wilson from Kuda and Andrew Barney from Ballare, both run by the UK’s largest nightclub operator The Luminar Group, will spend several hours on Saturday 15 November with the Christian volunteers to find out about the help they give to revellers who have got into difficulty during a night out on the tiles.
Cambridge Street Pastors patrol the streets every Saturday assisting anyone who is upset, lost or worse for wear, often helping them find a taxi, reunite them with friends or, in extreme circumstances, alerting emergency services. They can also suggest a visit to the NightLite drop-in cafe at St Columba’s Church where people can wait in safety, recover, have a chat or simply use the toilets.
:: Jenny Shelton went on patrol with Cambridge Street Pastors earlier this year – read the feature here ::
Simon Wilson, general manager of Kuda, said: “We believe in working together with various agencies to ensure Cambridge has a safe night time economy. The Street Pastors do a fantastic job; this is a chance for us to strengthen the relationship we have, to get to know them on a personal level and to help out where we can.
“As club managers we want to make sure our customers have a safe and enjoyable night. We understand our duty of care and support the ideals of the Street Pastors which in many ways mirror the pastoral work we already undertake in terms of helping vulnerable individuals find a safe way home.”
Andrew Barney of Ballare added: “We are so lucky to have such a dedicated team of Street Pastors working in Cambridge. It’s so important that we show support not just this Saturday but every time the Street Pastors are out supporting the safe night time economy we operate in”
The trained volunteers patrol every Friday and Saturday nights in and around the city centre. Street Pastors Local Director Garry McDermott said: “We understand the importance of the night time economy. We work with late-night operators and have good relationships with the staff at Kuda and Ballare. This is an opportunity for both managers to see what the city centre is really like away from their establishments.
“It will also be a chance to show what assistance we offer, the reassurance we provide and the different needs of people we meet. People do appreciate our help.”
The volunteers, in their distinctive uniforms, can provide water for rehydration, blankets and flip flops for women with aching feet who are tempted to ditch their heels and walk barefoot – risking stumbling into broken glass. They also respond to calls for assistance on the Cambac (Cambridge Business Against Crime) radios they carry.
Adam Ratcliff, Business Crime Manager at Cambac, said: “Cambridge Business Against Crime strongly supports the excellent work done by Street Pastors in making Cambridge a safer place for those enjoying the city and its night time economy. Spending a night with the Street Pastors will give the club managers a valuable insight and help reinforce the values of responsible service of alcohol.”
www.cambridgestreetpastors.org.uk
