Wantage & Grove Street Pastors
Trained volunteers from local churches who patrol Wantage and Grove on Friday and Saturday nights
Caring, listening and helping on our streets
Wantage and Grove Street Pastors are trained volunteers from local churches who care about the community. Small teams patrol Wantage and Grove on Friday and Saturday nights as often as they are able, to care for, listen to and help people who are out on the streets. There are five teams, each patrolling once a month, mostly around pay day at the end and start of each month. Dates are on their patrols page. In September 2024 they also started a monthly afternoon patrol in Wantage.
They have been patrolling at night since 2009, and celebrated their 15th anniversary in October 2024 by handing out hot pasties in the Market Square. The team is supported by local churches and community groups, working in partnership with the police, the local council and other statutory agencies.
Street Pastors is a national initiative of Ascension Trust, first pioneered in 2003, that brings local churches together with the police and council. The Wantage and Grove team is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered charity number 1205598 (previously 1134429). It has around 35 volunteers and six trustees, chaired by Paul Gander.
If you see them out and about, do come and say hello.
How Street Pastors help
Street Pastors help different people in different ways. Their monthly reports describe the kind of things that happen on patrol.
Practical help
Water for the thirsty and flip-flops for people who have given up on their shoes. They often care for people who have had too much to drink or have been separated from their friends.
A listening ear
Time with people who want to talk about their lives and what they are going through. Where people wish, they can point them to organisations that may be able to help further.
Prayer, if you ask
As Christians they are happy to pray with anyone who would like them to, on the street or through their prayer team. They are not there to preach.
Keeping streets safe
Teams clear up broken glass and litter, return glasses to nearby pubs, and help calm situations when asked.
Afternoon patrols
The monthly afternoon team in Wantage chats with many young people, who have got used to seeing them around.
Pasty night
An annual evening in the Market Place handing out hot pasties, water and lollies. In 2026 it was on Saturday 20 June.
Supporting churches
Wantage and Grove Street Pastors is supported by these churches:
- Grove Free Evangelical
- Grove Methodist Church
- Ss Peter and Paul, Wantage
- Holy Trinity, Charlton
- St Denys, Stanford in the Vale
- St John Vianney, Wantage
- St John's, Grove
- St Nicholas', East Challow
- Vale Elim Church, Grove
- Wantage Baptist Church
- Wantage Community Church
- Wantage Methodist Church
If you would like to visit one of these churches and would like someone to go with you, get in touch and they will happily arrange for someone to meet you.
Ways to get involved
Contact the team to find out more about any of these roles.
Friend
Receive the newsletter and reports on their activities, and hear about social and fundraising events.
Member
As well as reports and invitations, members are invited to the AGM. Members attend one of the participating churches.
Prayer Support Volunteer
Support the Street Pastors at their base while teams are on patrol, with refreshments and prayer.
Street Pastor
A bigger commitment. You must be over 18, have attended one of the participating churches for at least 12 months, and have a basic DBS check as part of your application.
Trustee
Members of a participating church can ask about serving as a trustee.
Other help
Help with recruitment, promotion, event management or training is also welcome.
Supporting the work
You can give to Wantage and Grove Street Pastors in several ways:
- Online: at Give.net/WGSP. If you are a UK taxpayer your gift can be Gift Aided.
- Standing order: download a standing order form from their website or get in touch.
- easyfundraising: raise funds when you shop online, at no cost to you.
- Gift Aid: download a Gift Aid declaration form and return it to wantageandgrove@streetpastors.org.uk.
- In person: at Cornerstone Bookshop (Savile Way, Grove), The King's Centre (King's Walk, Wantage), The Swan and The King's Arms in Wantage, The Bell in Grove, and Vale Elim Church.
The team is also helped by grants from Oxfordshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Grove Parish Council.
Curry and Quiz Night 2026: Saturday 7 November 2026 at the Old Mill Hall, Grove, doors 6.30pm. Tickets are £14 per person in advance or £15 on the door, with up to six people per team. Book by email or on 07554 655594.
Questions and answers
When are Street Pastors out?
Teams patrol on some Friday and Saturday nights, as often as they are able, mostly around the end and start of each month, and there is a monthly afternoon patrol in Wantage. Dates are listed on their patrols page: https://streetpastors.org/locations/wantageandgrove/patrols/
Are Street Pastors there to preach?
No. They are there to care for, listen to and help people. As Christians they are happy to pray with anyone who asks.
How long have they been patrolling?
Wantage and Grove Street Pastors have patrolled at night since 2009.
Who can become a Street Pastor?
Volunteers must be over 18, have attended one of the participating churches for at least 12 months, and have a basic DBS check.
Can I help without going out on patrol?
Yes. You can be a Friend, a Prayer Support Volunteer at the base, or help with recruitment, promotion, events or training.
Is it a registered charity?
Yes. Wantage and Grove Street Pastors is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered charity number 1205598. Its previous charity number was 1134429.
Find out more or volunteer
To find out more about the team's work or about becoming a Street Pastor, email Wantage and Grove Street Pastors or call the coordinator, Nigel Watt, on 07554 655594.
Meetings
About five night patrols a month, mostly around the turn of the month, plus a monthly afternoon patrol in Wantage; dates on their patrols page
Via the Join Us page or email; volunteers come from local churches and are trained