THE very successful street pastors, who offer help, care and a listening ear to people in need, are to extend their work to Tavistock College.

Teams of clergy-based school pastors will initially be walking around the perimeter of the college on a Wednesday afternoon just to be there for the youngsters, if they want to talk, with the same ethos of care and keeping students safe.

The pastors have been out on the streets of Tavistock on Friday and Saturday nights for almost three years and have built up a good relationship with all those involved in the late-night economy.

Groups of four pastors go out with backpacks containing such things as flip-flops for the girls so they change their shoes to walk home in comfort, and lollipops to raise sugar levels when people have been drinking. They also pick up glass bottles and help out people who have had too much to drink.

Following an initiative from the Ascension Trust, the governing body of the street pastors in Tavistock, the work has now been extended to interact with the students of Tavistock College through Tavistock School Pastors.

Co-ordinator of the scheme Roger Bird said it was not about preaching to the youngsters but being there as a friendly face and someone to talk to.

'Unfortunately because of some family situations not all youngsters have the opportunity to share their concerns with family members. We are there to provide a listening ear.'

Street pastors was a scheme started in 2003 in Brixton, London, following a knife attack and has the backing of the police and local councils. It was considered that it was time people came out from the churches into the community and started to take care of those in need.

Now there are almost 10,000 street pastors in England and over the last two or three years that has extended into school pastors.

Principal of Tavistock College Helen Salmon said the school pastors had talked to each year group in assembly so the students knew what it was all about.

'I really welcome this initiative as it enables us to work closely with the community and approved volunteers who really want to help us and our young people,' she said.

'They want the children to chat to them about positive things as well as anything that is bothering them.'