Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 26

life

FEATURE

Who loves ya, baby?
With a lollypop and a smile the Street Pastors are turning
things round in Ryde
IT is a Friday night in Ryde, the shoppers
have long since left and Union Street

running high.”
David leads the Street Pastors, a national

concerned, things can turn nasty. Hence
the lollypops. “The intense sugar rush

takes on its after-dark atmosphere. The

organisation developed to respond to

goes straight to the back of the brain

girls in their little dresses and high heels

urban problems. Ryde has seen increasing

and has a calming effect: and sucking is

are reeling a bit and shivering. Two men,

incidents of anti-social behaviour, and,

soothing in itself. Besides,” grins David,

drunk, are squaring up to each other and

with the blessing and encouragement

“it’s hard to look aggressive with a

things are about to get nasty. Then a man

of the police, the Street Pastors were

lollypop in your hand!”

in a baseball cap steps between them,

brought in.

and says “Have a lollypop!”
“It’s a bizarre diversion tactic,” grins

They are volunteers, who go out in

Street Pastors is a non-denominational
church-based organisation, but one of the

teams of five and six from about 9.30pm

big no-nos on the job-spec is preaching.

David Ouston, bearer of lollypops,

until around 3am, each Friday night. They

“That’s not on our agenda. Our prime

chocolates, and even flip flops. “But a

are led by a “senior” who judges when

focus is on the person, their practical

lollypop or a chocolate can quite easily

it might be wise to withdraw from a

needs now.”

diffuse a situation where feelings are

situation. For where drink and drugs are

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“If someone needs to catch a bus, we