The end looked nigh for the Malt Cross Trust-run operation when a three-year Comic Relief grant of £87,071 ran out in February.
Now the service has been rescued for five months at least following a cash injection from Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, Nottingham City Transport and Intu, the owners of Victoria and Broadmarsh Shopping Centres.
Up to 100 volunteers between the ages of 18-78 patrol the streets at night to assist drunken revellers and diffuse potentially troublesome situations. They have helped more than 13,000 people return home safely since the service was set up in 2010.
“Our members that operate in the night time economy really value the work of the Street Pastors and this is why we have decided to step in and help now by providing additional funding,” said Jeff Allen, chairman of the Nottingham BID.
“They…[take] pressure off the police and the medical services, who can devote their time and resources to more serious incidents as a result. Their activities save the emergency services a lot of money, too.”
Jo Cox-Brown, chief executive of the Malt Cross Trust said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the ‘generosity’ and ‘faith’ in the project, adding that the Trust continued to seek more sustainable funding solutions.
“It's so encouraging for our 100 volunteers to know that they are supported and appreciated by the community we serve,” she declared. “We want to say a big thank you to all who made this support happen.”