Annual Report
2025
Looking back can be a good thing to do and it can help us to look forward as we reflect on what did work and what didn't. At Wantage and Grove Street Pastors there have been many things that have worked in the last year (Street Patrols, Free Pastie give away, Carol singing at Christmas and our bigger Curry & Quiz Night) but there are some things that don't quite go as well as we would hope for example the recruitment of volunteers. There are many hoops to get through for a volunteer and after initial success on sharing the vision of street pastors at a church service and someone showing interest to be a street pastor. It can then take months until we get that person trained up and out on the streets, some of them don't make it through all of those hoops and this is something we need to work on. As every year passes we also lose one or two street pastors who have to hang up their coat and retire from being on the streets. Therefore as we look ahead to 2026 please do pray that we will be able to add to the teams, to maintain our Paul Gander street patrols and that new recruits don't lose heart and be part of this amazing and wonderful Chair charity that is Wantage and Grove Street Pastors!
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Thanks to…
Local Friends Partner Grove Wantage Oxfordshire Thames Police & Ascension
Friends further Churches Parish Town County Valley Crime Trust
afield Council Council Council Police Commissioner
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Thank you to all our volunteers whose hard work and dedication has helped us achieve another year of caring, listening and helping in our communities. Thank you to all those individuals and organisations who have supported us in so many ways, from prayer and patrols to finances and provision of our base - Thank you!
Who we are
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Trustees
137 17 13 18 8 5 Prayer & Coordinator Social Media
Local Other Partner Street Prayer Patrol Teams Nigel Watt Lion Tree Media
Friends Friends Churches Pastors Support each month (Part time)
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During the reporting period we had two Friday teams, one patrolling 8 pm - midnight, one patrolling 10.30 pm - 2.30 am; and two Saturday teams patrolling from 11 pm to 2.30 am. We also had one afternoon patrol each month.
The year in patrols
*Apr 2024 to Dec 2024
| 2025 | 2024* | People we engaged with: | People we engaged with: | People we engaged with: | People we engaged with: | People we engaged with: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrols | 55 | 37 | Male | Female | Total | 2024* | ||
| Hours covered | 179 | 148 | ||||||
| Under 13 yrs | 26 | 25 | 51 | 2 | ||||
| Supporting vulnerable | 24 | 21 | ||||||
| 13 to 17 yrs | 133 | 73 | 206 | 95 | ||||
| Calming aggressive | 5 | 1 | ||||||
| 18 to 25 yrs | 148 | 99 | 247 | 169 | ||||
| Flip-fops | 18 | 19 | ||||||
| 25+ years | 152 | 63 | 215 | 151 | ||||
| Lollypops | ~2240 | ~1750 | ||||||
| Totals | 459 | 260 | 719 | 417 | ||||
| Water | 102 | 69 | ||||||
How we helped on the streets
“Wantage is in a good mood!”, reported one of our Street Pastor teams. What a wonderful description of a peaceful but busy evening – exactly what Street Pastors are working towards! That night we met a man who was homeless. We spent some time listening to him. We gave him some water and got him something to eat. We also spent some time with another man who was sad, angry and in some emotional turmoil. We listened to him, tried to encourage him and offered to pray for him, which he gratefully accepted.
In Grove our team met a young lad standing at the bus stop on his own. He was heading home from a friend’s house sooner than expected and was on the phone to his mum. Our Street Pastors offered to wait with him - which his mum thought a great idea. The bus arrived five minutes later. He didn’t have any money so we were very happy to pay his fare.
One of our teams heard glass breaking on the street in Wantage and found two large bottles on the road. Our team didn’t see where they came from but spent about 15
Community involvement
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King Alfred’s Academy
Wantage Wantage Sweatbox Missing
& Grove & Grove Youth People
Neighbourhood PubWatch Centre
Action Group
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minutes clearing up the debris. One of our afternoon patrols helped to disperse a large group of youngsters who had gathered outside Sainsbury’s. Our team chatted to the young people and were able to encourage them to slowly move on.
Wantage & Grove Street Pastors works alongside and supports a number of local, regional and national groups. We regularly contribute to the Neighbourhood Action Group, which seeks to identify and resolve issues that arise in our local communities. Our early Friday evening team visits Sweatbox whenever possible to connect with the young people and encourage youth workers. Our afternoon patrols support King Alfred’s Academy
Charity overview
Designated Safeguarding Officer Anne Cheeseman (07827 750 217) Deputy DSO - Paul Gander (07812 136 031)
Trustees
Paul Gander - Chair Andrea Randall - Secretary Michael Elliott - Treasurer Marj Lunn Steve West Andy Smith John Rogers (appointed July 2025)
Street Pastor Sundays
Wantage Parish Church - 9 February 2025 Grove Free Evangelical Church - 13 July 2025 Wantage Community Church - 26 October 2025
Employees
Events & Fundraising
Nigel Watt - Coordinator - part-time paid role
Pasties on Patrol - 21 June 2025 Curry & Quiz Night - 18 November 2025 Carol Singing - 19 December 2025
Social Media LION Lion Tree Media TREE MEDIA
2025 AGM
We held our 2025 AGM on Tuesday 1 July at King Alfred’s Head in Wantage. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend. This was the last AGM of the old WGSP charity and will allow us to close down the old charity.
After the business of the AGM, we enjoyed some wonderful refreshments. A huge ‘thank you’ to King Alfred’s Head for allowing us to use their upper room free of charge and for a great buffet.
We ended the evening with a very special award ceremony! Our Chair, Paul Gander, dressed to the nines in his DJ, gave the awards to Street Pastors, Prayer Support Volunteers, Trustees and others. Many of the awards drew on the hidden talents in our teams and the very unique skills and abilities that people bring to this wonderful ministry. All in all, it was lots of fun. One person said it was the best AGM they’ve ever been to! High praise indeed!
Financial overview of the accounts of the old charity
Michael Elliott Treasurer
Wantage and Grove Street Pastors has completed its conversion from a Charitable Trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The transfer took place on 1st January 2025. The table below shows the first year’s results for the CIO but the 2024 column shows the last year of the trust’s operations.
We continue to receive grant funding from Oxfordshire County Council and the TVP Community Action Fund. In 2024 we receive some additional funding related to the housing developments which was not repeated in 2025. We also continue to receive support from individual supporters of Wantage & Grove Street Pastors.
Total expenditure in 2025 was at the same level as 2024.
We are grateful for the continuing support we receive from members, the public and charitable bodies. Our work continues to be recognised and valued by our community.
Thank you for your support!
| Income | 12 months to Dec 2025 CIO |
12 Months to Dec 2024 Charitable Trust |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Church support | Grove Free Evangelical Church, St John’s Grove |
2,200 | 3,195 |
| Grants | Oxfordshire County Council, TV Police Community Fund, Penuel Trust |
8,926 | 12,028 |
| From Individuals | 19 standing orders, and one-off donations | 3,575 | 3,794 |
| Events | Curry & Quiz Night | 1,277 | 841 |
| Collecting boxes | Cornerstone, Kings Centre and various pubs | 165 | 121 |
| Gift aid recovery | 357 | 457 | |
| Interest | 321 | 203 | |
| Total income | £16,821 | £20,639 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Staff costs | Salary and related | 15,695 | 16,147 |
| Cost of fundraising | Catering and hall hire at events | 132 | 299 |
| Training & Safeguarding | SP training and safeguarding costs | 589 | 451 |
| Operating costs | Flip-fops and lollipops, refreshments for those on duty, kit, mobile 'phone top-ups, printing, etc. |
1,873 | 1,153 |
| Ascension Trust fee | 15% of income (except OCC grant) | 1,244 | 1,538 |
| Total expenditure | £19,533 | £19,588 | |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | (£2,712) | £1,051 | |
| Closing Bank Balance | 2014 - £17,298 was the closing cash balance transferred to the CIO |
£14,586 | £17,298 |
Reserves Policy
To maintain reserves of half our annual cost of operations.
Online Networking
Lion Tree Media have continued to work on our online presence throughout 2025. During the year they have:
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Posted SP & PSV team pictures & videos, encouraging Bible verses, safety advice and guidance for the night time economy
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Grown our following:
Facebook: 609 followers (up from 497)
Instagram: 453 followers (up from 400)
TikTok: 1,046 followers (up from 752)
For a short period in December, our Facebook page was offline due to a suspected impersonation violation of Community Standards. We launched an appeal, which was upheld and our page was soon restored. Our page was offline for around 4 days in total.
Afternoon Patrols
During 2025 we patrolled on 12 afternoons in Wantage in support of King Alfred’s Academy.
Street Pastor teams patrolled in Betjeman Park, along the path towards King Alfred’s West Site and around the town centre and shopping areas.
We continue to build connections with young people as they make their way home at the end of the school day. We have had lots of conversations ranging from football to exams; from faith to parkour; and from bullying to moving house to.
It has been a privilege to support young people and spend time with them, especially for those we have helped and given assurance and encouragement.
We are looking to build on our afternoon patrol teams to enable us to patrol more often. Please contact us if this is something that interests you.
Trustee Goals for 2026
Each year our Management Committee sets goals to help focus our efforts and to ensure that we continue to serve our community well.
Here is a summary of our 2026 Trustee Goals:
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Increase the number of volunteers, Street Pastors and Prayer Support Volunteers.
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Recruit Church Reps where we need them and re-empower those currently serving as
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Church Reps.
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Continue to grow our social media presence inc Street Pastor messages and Bible verses. Including adverts for recruitment of Street Pastors and Prayer Support Volunteers.
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Continue to develop daytime patrols.
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Secure £15 – 20k funding to cover our costs.
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Recruit a volunteer to help support fundraising efforts.
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Hold at least one fundraising event and one awareness-raising event in the Year.
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Recruit a Trustee to help with Governance.
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Work with Statutory and Third Sector Agencies to help and support people in the Night Time Economy.
For more information about our goals, please do talk to a Trustee or send us an email.
Wantage & Grove Street Pastors
Once again, thank you for your support of our work in our local communities.
For more information about our work or for details of how you can get involved, please visit our website or contact us using the details below:
Supported by grants from Oxfordshire County Council TVP PCC Community Fund Grove Parish Council
Website: www.wantageandgrove.streetpastors.org.uk
Email: wantageandgrove@streetpastors.org.uk Mobile: 07554 655 594 Facebook: facebook.com/wantageandgrovestreetpastors Instagram: wantage_grove_pastors TikTok: wantage_grove_pastors Registered Charity: 1205598
Thank you to all our supporters!
Street Pastors is an initiative of Ascension Trust, a Christian, inter-denominational organisation with a passion to empower individuals to work together within their local community and nation.