THE Street Pastors initiative could be on the streets of Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly by December.

The official launch of the CLoCK (Churches of Lochgelly Cowdenbeath and Kelty) scheme took place on Friday when the co-ordinator, Wilma Aitchison, was able to announce the plan to have things up and running in time for the Festive period, a time when the support of the Street Pastors can be most needed.

But Wilma stressed that more volunteers were needed to make the initiative able to operate a full service in Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Kelty and she hoped that people would come forward to offer their services.

Friday’s launch, at the Beath/Cowdenbeath North Parish Church, saw two of the CLoCK volunteers speak of why they wanted to be able to provide assistance for anyone who might need it on the streets of local communities. Lynda Gibb and Alan Mitchell are both Cowdenbeath residents and Lynda said, “I have seen the Street Pastors in action in other areas of Fife and I found the spirit of the teams truly inspiring.

“I feel I will be able to offer help and understanding to anyone who I meet who needs it.” Alan commented, “There are a lot of people, some young some not so young, who can find themselves needing some assistance when they are out on the town on a Friday or a Saturday and I want to be able to provide that.” Wilma said that both Lynda and Alan were members of the local church community who felt they could play a part in providing the key element which the Street Pastors initiative has seen help hundreds of people in Fife alone and there were many others who had already come forward.

But as she put it, there is always room for many more. “You do not have to be out on the streets to be part of the Street Pastors initiative,” she added, “There are plenty of other roles that need to be filled in the local project and if you want to help but are a little uncomfortable about being out on the street then you can be helping out behind the scenes, whether it be providing hot drinks for the volunteers on the streets or fundraising to keep the local initiative going.

“I would ask people to consider being part of the scheme, I can assure that the results can make it a very rewarding experience.” The Street Pastors initiative is sponsored by the London based Ascension Trust and the organisation’s operations manager, Eustace Constance, was at the North Church to welcome the launch.

He said, “The Street Pastors project is all about making a difference by listening and caring and wherever the initiative is set up in no time at all the public soon love to meet pastors and have a chat with them and I am very sure that will quickly become the case in the Cowdenbeath area.

“We are all about safety and wellbeing and the public very quickly understand that and respect what the pastors offer.” Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, and Cowdenbeath MSP, Alex Rowley, both attended the launch and gave the CLoCK project their full backing.

Mr Leishman said, “I have seen the results of the work of the Street Pastors in Dunfermline and they are always warmly received on a Friday or a Saturday night and I am sure the Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Kelty pastors will do equally as well in listening, caring and helping.” Local community police were also there.