| January 31, 2026
Town Pastors schemes across Suffolk receive some funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). As part of our accountability for the use of public funds we report to the PCC’s office every year on how the money has been spent.
Because of the way that funding cycles work, we have to report on the activities of 2024/25 at the start of 2026. Here is an extract of our report for that financial year detailing one aspect of our work (as Festival Pastors) at the Latitude Festival:
Festival Pastors invested a large number of volunteer hours over the four days and four nights including set up and tear down, patrolling and travelling. In addition many more hours are invested by Town Pastors Central trustees and Town Pastor volunteers in preparation and training before the festival, administrative tasks, and prayer support related to the festival.
Festival Pastors were involved with many activities including: being a friendly presence and generally helping people, helping set-up, giving lots of directions, giving out child wristbands, personal safety/welfare, keeping people calm, support to distressed people, assistance in medical situations, assisting people who were highly intoxicated and/or had taken drugs (or been spiked), welfare style support given to Festival Republic staff whilst Festival Pastors were on patrol.
Festival Pastors recorded 6,634 interactions during the event. These included: 15 personal safety/wellbeing interactions, distributing 3264 child wristbands, and interactions related to pastoral care and/or mental health needs. They offered care and support to 5 people who were drunk and incapable of looking after themselves. Festival Pastors alerted security on 2 occasions, were able to prevent/reduce crime on 1 occasion, and they removed 20 dangerous items (bottles). Festival Pastors gave out water/chocolate/love hearts on 2,797 occasions. These small treats often improve general attitude and wellbeing thus reducing the risk of aggressive, confrontational or antagonistic behaviour.