Coventry Street Pastors celebrated their Ten-Year Anniversary with a special service at St John the Baptist Church on Fleet Street. The celebration was attended by members of the Street Pastor team along with many supporters.

During the service, reflections and responses were shared by several people both past and present including Sergeant Adam Pitham of West Midlands Police, Rachel Lancaster the Lord Mayor of Coventry and Sophie Jelley the Bishop of Coventry.

A key theme throughout the service was the remarkable work carried out by the volunteer Street Pastors and the care and compassion they consistently show to those they meet while serving in the city.

The service concluded with words from the Bishop, who reminded those present of the shared responsibility to support the community and that: “We all need to care about Coventry.”

A member of the team, Jayne Ball, shared: ‘Street Pastors are people from all walks of life with two things in common. We are practicing Christians and we are passionate about caring and giving back to
the community.

Our role goes much deeper than the image of us merely handing out lollipops and flip flops. We are an integral part of the night time economy of the city centre. We don’t judge, we’re sympathetic and we genuinely care about the vulnerable people on the streets, whether that be inebriated revellers or the homeless and rough sleepers.

We signpost, deliver first aid, collect bottles, sweep up broken glass, give out foil blankets and water to those in need and of course the lollipops. How a lollipop can diffuse a situation is quite remarkable!

We have conversations with those who are invisible to the world, so they feel valued and noticed.

September 2025 saw us start our newest patrol, Friday afternoons outside City College, through the Swanswell, Trinity Street and The Burges. To be a presence to help keep the students and school age children safe.

In a nutshell, We see, We listen and We care and God willing, we will continue to do so.’