Trustees’ annual report for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Reference and administrative details
Charity name: Ashford Street Pastors, other names the charity is known by: ASP
Charity Registration number: 1162670
Charity’s principal address c/o Ashford Street Pastors Willesborough Baptist Church Hythe Road Willesborough Ashford Kent TN24 0QR
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Trustee name Office (if any) person entitled to appoint
Thanabalasooriya Shanmugam Chair
Terry Golding MBE Vice Chair
Rob Saunders Treasurer
Lesley Stacey Prayer Pastor Coordinator
Caroline Marshall Social Media
Steve Peirson-Webber Project development
Susan Boulden Secretary
Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Independent Accountant Mr Stephen Windsor 54 Northward Road, Deal CT14 6PW
Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document: Ashford Street Pastors (ASP) is governed by a constitution dated January 2022 and under a licence agreement from Ascension Trust authorised on 8/5/2015
How is the charity constituted? ASP is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Company number CE005035
Trustee selection methods: Trustees are appointed or reappointed for a period of three years at the Annual General Meeting held in July
Additional governance issues
Ashford Street Pastor Policy Documents are adopted for our local situation from generic model policies recommended by Ascension Trust. These are safeguarding, data protection, equal opportunities, standard operating procedures with Ashford police, patrolling, communications, computer, email and internet usage, whistle blowing, media guidelines, financial control, complaints procedure, health and safety, senior Street Pastors guidelines, social media and CCTV policy.
Street Pastors is about Christians rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in practically responding to the problems of crime and safety, which assists in avoiding anti-social behaviour, relieves sickness and preserves health. Ashford Street Pastors charity operates services to help people on the streets and other public places with guidance, support and signposting, We ensure people are safe and if people need assistance or a listening ear, we are there for them. Since 2010, when Ashford Street Pastors commenced working in Ashford, hundreds of people have been helped whether they are sick, alone or homeless. Volunteers are men and women who have received specific training that empowers them to proactively patrol the streets in an established manner, they are known for being a peaceful and practical help on the night time streets and a caring, listening and helpful presence in the community. We are an approachable and non-judgemental team looking after anyone who is need of support practising unconditional love for all, primarily through listening, caring and helping people who are vulnerable or marginalised. Volunteers generally carry out the work of Ashford Street Pastors in the nighttime economy. Ashford Street Pastors are distinctly identifiable by their appropriate uniform and ID card.
Ashford Street Pastors operates under a licence agreement from Ascension Trust. Ascension Trust is a Christian inter-denominational organisation with a passion to empower individuals to work together within their local community and nation, to contribute positively to society and to improve the quality of life of the disadvantaged and vulnerable. Ascension Trust governs, trains and develops other partnering charitable organisations to deliver public benefit by providing support through training for individuals and churches to equip them for relevant, informed and pastoral interaction in our society. It provides services that foster social inclusion, safeguarding and support for people in need; promote crime prevention and social integration and enlighten others about Christianity and the advancement of the Christian faith.
The core cooperative approach of Ashford Street Pastors is an ‘Urban Trinity’, the joint effort of participating churches, the local council and the police, in the endeavour of preserving public order and peace. We show our commitment to this principle by being active partners in the local Community Safety Unit, Shaping Tomorrows Ashford Rough Sleepers’ Service, Ashford Partnership Against Crime (APAC)/Pub Watch, there is a great working partnership with the local Police and Ashford Borough Council.
New trustees are given access to the current version of the constitution, the latest Trustees’ Annual Report, statement of accounts and the current version of the Ascension Trust License Agreement. He/she ensures he/she understands Ashford Street Pastors purpose as set out in its governing document, plans what Ashford Street Pastors will do, and what he/she wants it to achieve, is able to explain how all of Ashford Street Pastors activities are intended to further or support its purposes and understands how Ashford Street Pastors benefits the public by providing this service and through its operation.
All trustees support the mission, goals and values of Ashford Street Pastors and actively and willingly participate in and contribute to the work and furtherance of the Ashford Street
Pastor initiative. Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. Trustees ensure that they have no conflicts of interest or loyalty by declaring the nature and extent of any interest, which he/she has, in a proposed transaction and then absenting himself/herself from any discussions. Each trustee has read the governance and policy documentation for Ashford Street Pastors including ‘The essential trustee’ from the Charity Commission.
Objectives and activities
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document
The purposes of Ashford Street Pastors are:
1.
To advance the Christian Faith in accordance with the Ashford Street Pastors Licence Agreement with the Ascension Trust through:
(i) The provision of public pastoral care services to help people on the streets and other public places, giving guidance, support and signposting which assist in preserving public order, avoid antisocial behaviour, relieve sickness and preserve health and by
(ii) Enlightening others about Christianity through raising awareness and understanding of ecclesiastical relevance to community and public life, mobilising the Church ecumenically to unity of worship and to advance the Christian Faith by carrying out the mission and outreach work of the Gospel for the benefit of the public.
2.
To develop the capacity and skills of socially disadvantaged groups in our community in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society; in particular but not exclusively through raising awareness, promoting, sustaining and increasing individual and collective knowledge, skills and expertise, through the practical development of individual capabilities, competences, skills and understanding through formal training, informal talks and capacity building in voluntary services, according to Christian principles and the Street Pastor Urban Trinity principle of church, police and local government working together for the benefit of the community.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts
Ashford Street Pastors is a registered charity and we are trained volunteers from local churches who care about our local community. Our street pastors have patrolled Ashford town centre since 2010 in teams of men and women, usually from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and some Saturday nights. We aim to provide a peaceful presence on the night-time streets by caring for, listening to and helping people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, homeless, very young, lost, or lonely. We may assist people to ensure that they can get home safely by offering help and guidance or we refer people to local emergency services or advice services. The service we provide is unique in Ashford. We support people when there is no one else to support them. Our project is a cooperation of Churches Together Ashford, Ashford Borough Council and the local police.
Ashford Street Pastors operate a welfare vehicle during patrols that is a designated Safe Space brought into operation as part of the Police and Crime Commissioners Safer Streets 3 initiative during 2021. The Safe Space welfare vehicle has been used to assist many individuals who have become unable to help themselves for various reasons when out in the night time economy. The vehicle has been used to respond to various incidents and has assisted vulnerable people to their homes or a place of safety. The Safe Space has been requested for use by the emergency ambulance service when an ambulance has not been available and members of the public have been transported to hospital. Additional practical help we provide includes handing out space blankets outside nightclubs and flip-flops to clubbers unable to walk home in their high-heeled footwear and to prevent walking on the broken glass on the pavements, which Ashford Street Pastors does clear away when possible; giving out water and lollipops for energy; providing first aid where necessary and patrolling with a defibrillator; arranging taxis for those unable to get home unassisted and ensuring the safety of vulnerable persons. Ashford Street Pastors remove glass bottles and other potential weapons from the streets in order to discourage violence and vandalism. Ashford Street Pastors respond to requests from the town monitoring unit and/or police for our presence at potential conflicts, which are considered safe for us to attend, waiting for ambulances to arrive, liaising with friends or family members for safe meeting points. The local community directly benefits, as there are fewer incidents of antisocial behaviour on the nights that Ashford Street Pastors patrol the streets.
Ashford Street Pastors work in conjunction with the Housing department of Ashford Borough Council and Kent Police and can act as a communication route between established support networks and the homeless in our community. Ashford Street Pastors assists with the annual Rough Sleepers count carried out by Ashford Borough Council.
Contribution made by volunteers
Volunteers staff all the patrols made by Ashford Street Pastors. Without their contribution, Ashford Street Pastors would not exist. In addition to their time and commitment, each Street Pastor volunteer contributes £300 towards their training and uniform.
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, Ashford Street Pastors patrolled our local community on 47 nights across the year, with additional support from our Prayer Pastors for the same.
Our Prayer Pastors We have a team of Prayer Support volunteers. They are a vital part of the team supporting the Street Pastors with prayer and looking after the Street Pastors by making tea / coffee at the start of the evening and during the mid- evening break. They share a commitment and enthusiasm to pray into the night as the Street Pastors are out on the streets. Street Pastors transmit information on all they are doing so that every encounter is supported in prayer. Additionally, the street & prayer pastors are linked with the Town Control.
We acknowledge the vitally important prayer support of those behind the scenes committed to praying for the team as they serve. We serve a Great God.
Street Pastors was founded in Brixton, South London, in 2003 by Rev Les Isaac.
Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity
Between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, Ashford Street Pastors removed in excess of 200 bottles and glasses from the streets in the borough of Ashford. We engaged with approximately 1200 people and recorded actively assisting 150, 78 of whom were extremely vulnerable; handing out 37 bottles of water, 19 foil blankets, 14 pairs of flip fops and 1353 lollipops and 36 bottle stoppers (Spikey). We interacted with homeless men and women on many occasions, sharing our information with other agencies when extra support was requested.
All at Ashford Street Pastors would like to thank you for your support over the last year, whether that be through financial giving, prayerful support, or simply showing an interest in the work we do.
We are volunteers from many churches in and around Ashford who want to serve people in the local community in a practical way. It is so gratifying to know that there are so many of you out there who believe we are doing good work.
Annual Finance report prepared for the Annual General Meeting 2025 attached separately
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors.
Rob Saunders Trustee/Treasurer Susan Boulden Trustee/Secretary
18 October 2025
| ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
ASHFORD STREET PASTORS From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 Summary Income and Expenditure by Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary by Section / Fund | Balance at 31/12/23 |
Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Net Movement 2024 |
|||
| In SZA1099 |
Out SZB2099 |
|||||||
| AAA | Z01 | Ashford Street Pastors General Fund | -8,032.08 | -10,824.31 | 7,994.68 | 0.00 | 2,829.63 | 0.00 |
| AAA | M04 | Ashford Street Pastors Equipment Reserve | -1,878.16 | -389.70 | 1,688.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,298.50 |
| HA1 | Z01 | Ashford Street Pastors Cordinators Fund | -5,693.77 | -2,677.63 | 9,381.10 | -2,829.63 | 0.00 | 3,873.84 |
| TOTALS | -15,604.01 | -13,891.64 | 19,063.98 | -2,829.63 | 2,829.63 | 5,172.34 |
Balance c/f 31/12/24 - 8,032.08 -579.66 -1,819.93 -10,431.67