REVELLERS who become vulnerable after a night out in Bournemouth will be given a helping hand by town pastors from September.

Christian volunteers Gary and Chris McDermott are bringing the initiative to Bournemouth after setting up a similar scheme in Cambridge.

Supported by local charity Faithworks Wessex, a team of town pastors will head out on the streets of Bournemouth on Saturday nights and give a helping hand to anyone who has had too much to drink.

Chris explained: “We’re linking up with the police, the council, and churches to run this initiative as we know the benefits it can bring.

“We’ll be Christians showing the love of Jesus on the streets in a practical way – we won’t be preaching or giving out Bibles (unless we’re asked to do so). Our primary thrust is to help the people of Bournemouth have a safe night out.

“We’ll be carrying round rucksacks with flip flops, water, hairbands, sick bags, and a dust pan and brush to mop up any glass. If we find someone the worse for wear with drink, we can help them repatriate with their friends or get a taxi home.

“We’re totally non-judgemental. They went out for a good night, it ended up as a bad night.”

Gary added: “It’s not just a load of Christians who mean well without knowing what they’re doing – every pastor will have training – 12 modules altogether in first aid, drugs and alcohol, mental health, safeguarding etc.”

The town pastor scheme will be governed by Faithworks Wessex and has been funded so far by Chris and Gary and two churches.

The initiative is due to be rolled out in September, with the first set of town pastors to be trained in August. They will be on patrol on Saturday nights only at first until more volunteers can be trained to go out on Friday nights as well.

The town pastors will also work in conjunction with the existing Safe Bus initiative at Horseshoe Common, although doubts were cast over its future operation earlier this year.

Inspector Jane Kiernan, of Dorset Police, said the town pastors scheme was “incredibly important” in protecting vulnerable people.

“We can service the night-time economy in terms of the incidents that happen – it’s those people who are vulnerable through alcohol, drug-taking and being separated from their friends, maybe even rough sleepers, the town pastors are focussing on reaching out to. It’s a key focus and initiative that we wouldn’t necessarily be involved in because we are elsewhere.

“If they save one person from being attacked or robbed, that’s perfect, and the Safe Bus is part and parcel of that.”