OKEHAMPTON’S new street pastor scheme, which will see volunteers patrol the streets of the town at night to offer assistance to those in need, has had its official launch.

Street pastors are volunteers who engage with people on the evening streets and provide them with support. The street pastors patrol in teams of men and women, usually from 10pm to 4am on a Friday and Saturday night, to care for, listen to and help people who are on the streets outside local bars, pubs and clubs.

With support from Devon and Cornwall Police, local churches, West Devon Borough Council and Okehampton Town Council, the street pastor project in Okehampton will be put into practice in the forthcoming weeks.

Pictured are: Roger Bird, Ascension Trust representative and Tavistock Street Pastor, Rob Palmer, Tavistock co-ordinator and street pastor with Okehampton’s trainee pastors Laura Bird, Kevin Ball, Susan Eckles, Paul Bird and Julie Bailey.

Picture by Ian Snell