A ground-breaking initiative, launched in Pembroke last week, has won a ringing endorsement from Dyfed-Powys Police, as well as the town’s Mayor, Clr. Dennis Evans.

Response Pastors, an initiative of Ascension Trust, has evolved from discussions with the Metropolitan Police and several regional police services, as well as local authorities’ emergency planning groups and others involved in the operational side of major incidents and crisis situations.  Launched in August 2014 in London boroughs, it is now established in many areas around the UK, the Dyfed-Powys project being the first in Wales.

Speaking at the official launch ceremony in Pembroke Town Hall, Lyn Edwards, Dyfed-Powys Response Pastor co-ordinator, said: “Response Pastors are already established street pastors, but have received additional appropriate training. As voluntary workers, they will provide a crucial point of contact and additional support for the established emergency services. Their primary task is to offer support and compassion to all in the event of a crisis or emergency. They can be called on at any time of the day or night to give assistance or support as appropriate.

“Due to the hard work of PCSO Emma Hayward in obtaining a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund, we now have 20 trained Dyfed-Powys Response Pastors, 11 from Pembroke Street Pastors and nine from Haverfordwest Street Pastors. The Response Pastors have a range of different skills and cover a variety of ages. I am privileged to be their co-ordinator and to have Sam Scadden as my deputy with his wealth of knowledge and experience.

“Having been first on the scene in the village of Seascale during the 2010 Cumbrian shootings and involved in the various floods in the area, I am passionate about local trained teams being on the ground ready to respond and help in any way when called on by the local police or council.”

Sergeant Geraint Lewis, of Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Policing Team, showed his appreciation of the scheme saying: “It was both an honour and a privilege to take part in the launch ceremony. Having listened to all that was said, I have to say that it is fantastic to see this initiative taking off.

“I know Dyfed-Powys Police have been keen to play their part by helping with some of the funding. The tireless hard work that goes on as the Street Pastor volunteers give of their time on a Friday and Saturday night is a great help for us as we deal with people in the night time economy and we will support this fantastic initiative as best we can, hoping it will grow throughout Pembrokeshire

“This is a fantastic area to work in and to police and the assistance we receive from the Street Pastors and similar charities just shows the spirit to be found in the local community, with everyone wanting to assist in making Pembroke and our towns a safe place to live.

“I know colleague PCSO Emma Hayward has done a lot of work in securing some of the funding for this project and tonight is a testament to all the hard work she has put in too,” he added.

Sergeant Lewis’s sentiments were echoed by police chaplain, Rev. Tom Evans.

“I am here to support our Response Pastors in the tremendous work they will be doing in times of need in the Dyfed Powys area” he said. “When disaster strikes, people feel very, very vulnerable. I remember when I was on duty as a chaplain at the time when we lost April Jones. People were searching; people of faith and no faith at all were looking. I remember one particular day when I was stood near the church in Macynlleth talking to a group of people from the church when suddenly a young mum came up and touched me on the shoulder and said ‘is this place open to everyone?’

“We live at a time when people have lost contact with the church and church has lost contact with people. Street Pastors and Response Pastors are a superb way for the Christian church to get out in the name of God in serving Christ on the street where people are.

“I can only praise the people that are here tonight for volunteering and for being on the ready as it were when the call comes to go and support communities in our police force area. I would want to encourage them and call on others to do the same, and serve as God wants us to. We are not here to look after monuments. We are here to be part of God’s movement in today’s world.”

Adding his enthusiastic support, Pembroke’s Mayor, Clr. Dennis Evans, said: “It was a pleasure for my wife Rita and myself to be invited to the commissioning ceremony for the Dyfed-Powys Response Pastors, and to have the opportunity to welcome everyone to the Town Hall in Pembroke. Our thanks must go to Lyn and Jonathan for the invite.

“It gave me as Mayor of Pembroke the chance to inform the gathering of my involvement with the Street Pastor movement, going out on patrol, introducing the Pastor Response training and then taking part in the commissioning ceremony. I was very proud to announce the names and to shake the hand of all the Response Pastors as they received their official tabards and caps.

“Sam Scadden, Response Pastor deputy co-ordinator, informed the audience that the Pembroke Street Pastors are world famous and photographs relating to the pastors, including one of me in full regalia, can be viewed anywhere in the world just by doing a Google search. Fame at last.

“Pembroke Town Council were thanked for their continued support for the Pastor movement and I am very confident that the support will remain and strengthen in the future.”