Cambridge City Centre Safe Refuge in 2012

In 2011 Hope Cambridge working with Cambridge Street Pastors and St John Ambulance piloted an overnight Safe Refuge – a pastoral cafe with first aid open from 10pm to 4am using the side chapel of St Columba’s URC on Downing Street. Nearly 200 clubbers and others visited the facility during the 8 nights it was in operation, whether for a safe place to chill out with a soft drink, to find practical or pastoral help, or to receive medical attention. Funding was provided by Cambridge City Council. The objective was to demonstrate God’s love and contribute towards safety and security, on the same basis as Street Pastors. The work attracted a good deal of positive attention from local TV, radio and press, and was warmly welcomed by all concerned.

We would now like to carry out a 3 month trial of the facility this summer, opening Saturday night every week from 10pm to 4am, and for this we need three things: an accessible room/space with adjacent toilets in the city centre; volunteers to join a Working Group to make it happen; volunteers to make up the overnight Pastoral Teams.

Depending on the outcome of the trial, we would then look towards setting up a permanent facility using premises shared with other prayer, outreach and compassion ministries in Cambridge City Centre.

For more information please email Chris Jenkin: chris@hopecambridge.com