At Southampton Street Pastors we believe that prayer goes hand in hand with our caring, listening and helping on the streets. It is a key component in our work towards safe and happy streets, where young and old are safe and secure and there is no bloodshed. 

The Southampton City Council website (more info..) notes that in the last two years there has been 

• 67% reduction in all violent offences linked to the Night Time Economy (NTE) 
• 22% reduction in Emergency Department admissions for assault during peak night time hours
  

This reduction in violence is due to action being taken by the agencies working together - police, door staff, yellow card scheme (more info..), ICE bus (more info..). We believe another significant agency is the prayer team, who have prayed for a reduction in violence every Friday and Saturday night for the last two years. We thank God for the answers to those prayers, and we pledge ourselves to continue praying.

Sunday 23 October to Sunday 30th October is a national week of prayer for the United Kingdom, organised by Ascension Trust, the charity that oversees street pastors nationally. In Southampton Christians from all different churches across the city will be praying especially for an increase in God's peace in our city. 

Street Pastors are organising two special prayer activities.

Tuesday 25th - Prayer Treasure Hunt
Follow clues to take you on a tour of several locations in the city centre. At each there will be a different kind of prayer “treasure” and the clue for the next location. Refreshments at the final location.

The first location (St Edmunds, The Avenue, Southampton SO15 2EQ) will be open between 5pm and 8pm. You will be guided in prayers there and then progress through several locations in the city centre to end at the Street Pastor HQ. At each location members of Southampton Street Pastors will be there to lead a guided prayer activity and give you the clue to help you find the next location.

Saturday 29th - Guided Prayer Walk
Meet in Guildhall Square at 2pm to join one of several family walks around the city centre, guided by a street pastor. They will tell you about what happens in the city late at night and you will pause to pray in key areas for God’s peace and blessing on our city. This is ideal for street pastors’ families to join in and see where Dad/Mum/Gran/Grandad etc goes late at night. Just turn up and join in.