History and Mission of The STREET MINISTERS Project in MK

Welcome to the STREET MINISTERS Project of Milton Keynes, a charity established by Christians to care for people in our City called Fresh Inspirations Charitable Trust.

Our aim is to build bridges of understanding, trust and cooperation between communities of work, faith, leisure and society and to serve people by providing a street pastor-all care system for anyone who lives in, works in, or visits the City.

We aim to do this through outreach work with volunteers who give of their time to care for, help and listen to anyone who is in need regardless of their circumstances. As a first step we have already launched the Milton Keynes STREET MINISTERS Project in September 2007.

Our History and The Project 

Since the middle of 2007 a Anglican Priest formed the Agape Street Pastors (as they were originally called - in the Anglican/Celtic stream) who had been going out to visit the homeless and the vulnerably housed members of the community.  In September 2007 three other members were recruited and the new programme of mercy missions took shape and became established as a true Kingdom work of God. 

The Chaplain To The Poorest Of The Poor then formed The STREET MINISTERS Project in Milton Keynes and developed a business plan, which many Pastors and Churches have endorsed in Milton Keynes.  Just prior to an Executive Committee being formed this project expanded, to include the desire for the use of some community space with the aim of finding a voluntary sector resource centre and drop in facility for the public.

Our hope was that the Local Authorities would also endorse this plan to bless the Milton Keynes City Community. Central to the business plan, is the concept of an “Inter-Denominational and Independent Community Pastoral Team”.   It is this concept, which has also been developed by the Executive Committee, which consist of a well known reputable team of Pastors and Leaders drawn from Christian churches and communities, in or around Milton Keynes, into the 'The Chaplaincy', which also includes ‘The STREET MINISTERS Project' and now the weekend patrol section.

Executive Committee

With the delays to initiate this development due to initial lack of funding the Chaplain and Executive Committee have encouraged the churches to press ahead The STREET MINISTERS Project in advance of the availability of community space that we have asked for.

During the latter part of 2007 and early 2008 a great deal of work went into research into similar projects in other town and cities, and the development of the proposals for the Milton Keynes partnership development.

The Chaplaincy and STREET MINISTERS Project now enjoy the support of a wide range of churches and other friends in the City; indeed we have just won the prestigious Pride in MK Award for 'Making a difference on the Streets' of Milton Keynes and certainly we have noted crime and violence subsiding while we have been out on the streets this year and conclude that we have also played a part in that and will continue to do so.

In September 2007 a professional training course for local STREET MINISTERS came to fruition and training of a new batch of street Pastors for this street ministry.

In June 2008 the Street Ministers duty of care training manual was finished and the publication is now ready and has been sent to proof readers and graphic designers, for the artwork and logo design to be made ready, for print and distribution.   Out of this working manual and collaboration with other night time initiatives we have developed a handbook for volunteers to keep and use. 

In July 2008, the Chairman of the Executive board and Founder of Street Ministers, Chaplain - Rev Fr George Booty, along with Mr Steve Bamber - the Area Coordinator of Street Ministers, actually represented Milton Keynes in our Initiative for The STREET MINISTERS Project at the first National Conference for Christian Night Time Initiatives in Halifax. 

The Vision for Milton Keynes was shared, regarding The STREET MINISTERS Project, with many other leaders of initiatives around the UK, and the Vision, with the homless in focus, was very well received.

Our unique work with the poorest of the poor certainly impacted and caught the imagination of the other members.  There was also a cross pollination of ideas and sharing of strategies. A good working alliance was formed at that time with all parties concerned.

Phase two of the Street Ministers Project will include the recruiting of more volunteers to be trained as Street Ministers for the night time patrol work and some of which will be recruited to be active during the daytime economy, patrolling to assist shoppers in the City centre and taking time out to visit the vulnerably housed.  There is also a need to recruit more volunteer chaplains..

Council of Reference

Just prior to that time, a Council of Reference was being set up to include Pastors/Ministers who represented some 17 independent churches that were represented at pastoral level and a few Inter-Faith volunteers also as representatives.  Several Members of other agencies and VIP's have been invited to take part.

Independant Senior Church leaders, who are supportive of this Project and who may become a part of the new council, are as follows- Pastors: Mark Sherratt: The Christian Centre in Oldbrook; Charles Buckman: The Fathers House Church, in Neath Hill; and Yomi Gbadegesin: The Redeemed Christian Church of God; also Pastor Leroy Maddix: Life International Church, in Great Lindford; and Pastor Gabriel Eziashi: MK Tabernacle in Westcroft; Sola Ewedemi: Kings Court Chapel Central Milton Keynes; and Bishop Gerard O’Flaherty: Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, Bishop George Sembwe: Life and Power Christian Church in Leadenhall; also Chaplain. Rev Fr George Booty: A Missionary Priest and Abbott of a dispersed Order called Agape Community International. Other City Leaders and Chiefs also have been invited to take part.

 STREET MINISTERS Unique Services 

The Milton Keynes STREET MINISTERS Project enjoys considerable support from friends in and around the City, with contacts made through the newly formed After8Group and now we are attempting to work closely with Police and the Milton Keynes Borough Council.   Initially STREET MINISTERS in Milton Keynes will operate on Friday nights from 9.30pm until around 4am when all the bars and clubs are closed.  

THAMES VALLEY POLICE:

Extract of a recent Thames Valley Police poster campaign run by Detective Dave Dachtler in the campaign to help vulnerable females out late at night.

"In addition to the poster campaign police will be carrying out high visibility operations around the Central Milton Keynes in the run up to Christimas and will be working closely with the STREET MINISTERS, taxi drivers and taxi marshalls to ensure vulnerable people are indentified and looked after."

Some simple advice to stay safe when out enjoying yourself:

Let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to get home.

Avoid going oput for the evening alone.

Remember that alcohol affects your reactions as well as your inihibitions; you'll be less alert.

Never accept a drink from someone you don't know.

Stay with friends, don't go off on your own.

Think about what you are drinking and beware that measures vary.

Don't go off with someone you have just met.

Make sure your where your friend is and who she is with.

In time we hope to expand the Milton Keynes STREET MINISTERS Project to cover Thursdays and Saturday nights as well and a day presence which is something we look forward to being developed, in the future, around the City centre.

STREET MINISTERS and similar other programmes, such as:- Street Angels, Street Pastors, Town Pastors, etc, have been springing up across the UK over the last 2-3 years. They make a really positive impact on crime and antisocial behaviour in cities, towns and centres (particularly in the vicinity of bars and clubs) by providing a calming presence on the streets late at night and sober witnesses to assist the emergency services of Fire, Medical staff, Police and local authorities. 

Unique here?:  We are unique in that we offer to train people to undertake the role of spiritual shepherds, who are street pastor's to the poorest of the poor of our society.  The Street Ministers' primary concern is aimed at working pastorally with the homeless of our community and therefore we seek to have various Street Ministers go out very late at night, and hopefully with enough volunteers we will be able to cover every night, wherever practically possible, to ensure that the 'genuine homeless' have a pastoral covering (a safety net) by people who are fully trained as street 'Pastors' or 'Minders' in this organisation..

Collaboration is our main aim

The STREET MINISTERS Project now has a local area Coordinator Mr Steve Bamber who is responsible for the recruitment, checking, training, deployment and support for volunteer pastors and minders in STREET MINISTERS as well as for future publicity and fundraising.

The Coordinator works to collaborate with the Police (who have expressed strong support elsewhere for these kinds of projects) and all emergency services, Borough Council, City Centre Managers, door staff and many other agencies in Milton Keynes.

We have faith that many more STREET MINISTERS will be recruited in Milton Keynes, particularly when we begin to attract more publicity as human interest stories emerge locally in the media. We hope and anticipate that at least another 20 volunteer STREET MINISTERS will be deployed by the end of 2008, with a further 40 recruited in 2009/2010. Our goal is to have some 200 Ministers trained and on the City Streets by the year 2013.

Chaplain To The Poorest Of The Poor

The City Centre Chaplain To The Poorest Of The Poor will continue to lead as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chaplain and in so doing will represent the church members involved in The STREET MINISTERS Project.  

As Chaplain he will work in the City centre life with other existing and personally recruited volunteer chaplains, building productive and trusting relationships with the city centre community. He is supported by a number of volunteer chaplains, and in time, he will recruit more volunteers working with specific businesses or business/leisure sectors in the town centre (including companies, department stores, theatres, shopping centres, nightclubs, banks, civic offices and leisure locations).

The Chaplaincy to the poorest of the poor will bring a spiritual dimension to city centre life. It will build bridges of understanding, trust and cooperation between communities of work, faith, leisure and society and to provide a caring, listening presence for anyone who lives in, works in or visits the City centre.

The Chaplain will represent the Christian community (and perhaps the wider faith community) on many City groups and Equality Initiatives and with other Police liason groups, and would work with businesses and organisations to ensure that the churches play their full role in supporting the well-being of the City centre. The Chaplain will also oversee The STREET MINISTERS Project including the MK ANGELS Patrols in Milton Keynes.

The Chaplain and volunteer chaplains / pastors will be available on a confidential basis for people in the town centre to support their emotional and spiritual well-being, including visiting local businesses with the agreement of the management and staff.

The Chaplaincy service will be open to all without discrimination. Chaplains are motivated by their faith to care for people and communities. Their role is not to preach, rather to offer care and comfort and a listening ear to people of any faith or none.

The Chaplaincy will complement and hopefully include existing provision and services offered in the day time economy, including other chaplaincies in Milton Keynes such as those at the Cornerstone Church, Christian Foundation, YMCA, College, University, in the Police and at the Hospital and Prison. We wish to collaborate with all the other agencies in Milton Keynes.

So join us and help - YOUR CITY NEEDS YOU!

How to support us

Many people think of the homeless at Christmas, but they are with us all year around.  We need your support every day. Volunteer!

Prayer Intercessors:

If you are unable to help Street MInisters physically by joining in on a Soup Run, or Patrolling or Visitation work.  Please be assured that there are still many ways which you could help support Street Ministers.   We need help from financial fund raisers and prayer partners - why not adopt a Street Minister and cover the Pastor or Minder with a hedge of prayer, it can be dangerous on the City streets late at night.

Partnering :

You could help by becoming a Partner with Street Ministers and again you could consider adopting a Street Minister and a homeless person by supporting financially - in giving regularly every month, perhaps through a regular Standing Order payment from your Bank or Building Society.   A donation of £5 a week can almost keep a homeless person alive.  

We need your support.  We have expenses to run vehicles, to provide food, drinks, also to supply sleeping bags, tents, gloves, socks and occassionally trainers, jumpers, coats, toiletries, etc.

Please write or call to get more information.  Thank You!

Fresh Inspiration Charitable Trust: Reg No. 1116703 A company limited by guarantee

Or normal Email: office@streetministers.org

or Tel:  07799 847720