My name is Claire Suntharalingam and I am the new City Pastor Coordinator for Bath.

Dennis Pearson has decided to step back from this role after an incredible time serving both the team and community over the last decade. Dennis has done an outstanding job, leading the team to its current success and positively impacting many lives along the way. I am sure I speak on behalf of so many when I say how grateful we are to all that Dennis has given over these years.

I became a City Pastor myself back in the early months of 2024 so still have much to learn. In this short space of time however, I have seen just how much enthusiasm and dedication has been given to the service over the years and how widely respected it is amongst the Bath community. I have enjoyed seeing how a wonderfully diverse group of volunteers, can unite with the common goal of serving God and sharing the love and compassion of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter on the streets.

I became a Christian after University and travelled for some years in the UK and abroad. I married my husband Jay in 2003 and finally settled in Bath in 2008. For a number of years volunteered as a youth worker for church and loved engaging with young people. We have two teenagers ourselves, a daughter aged 17 and a son aged 19, both of which keep me busy as Mum. I qualified as a nurse in 1996 and worked in Intensive Care before becoming a Donor Transplant Coordinator. I later left nursing to run my own business as an Interior Stylist but later returned to the career just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. I now work as a Practice Nurse and enjoy the much calmer pace.

I recognize that continuing the excellent work that Dennis has established cannot be done alone. While I may not have years of BCP experience or knowledge, I will do my utmost to lead as God directs and guides me, with the support of the amazing team that comprises the Bath City Pastors. I kindly ask for your prayers as I lean on and listen to God enabling us to continue to nurture and grow the role of the Bath City Pastor in our ever-changing society.

Bath City Pastors website

Source - BBC Lancashire

A "safe space" for people to go for help on a night out has been launched in Blackpool following a pilot last summer.

Based at 1 Clifton Street, it aims to provide assistance to residents and visitors who may need some guidance.

Open between 22:00 and 03:00 each Saturday, it is managed by Blackpool and Fylde Street Angels, who also walk around the town centre and engage with people who appear vulnerable, have lost their friends or are struggling to get home.

Founder Paul Rawson said: "Over 30 years ago I experienced it myself, wondering how I got home sometimes, so I wanted to do something to help."

​He said the project saw "people worse for wear, people who'd been abandoned by their friends, who wanted to carry on enjoying themselves" and aimed to "help people, try to get them sobered up and help with first aid to save admissions to A&E".

"We give them water and flip flops to people who are walking round town in their bare feet," he said.

"Taxi drivers don't want to be taking someone home if they think they're going to be throwing up in the back of the cab."

The vulnerable can recuperate, charge their mobiles or get further help if they are worried about their condition or need treatment for minor injuries.

They can also access the safer taxi scheme to get back home in accredited taxis.

The Safe Space initiative also works with Lancashire Police and Blackpool Council.

Councillor Paula Burdess, cabinet member for community safety, neighbourhoods and street scene, said: "Since the scheme was piloted in the summer we have successfully managed to help a number of people who may have been in difficulty and needed a helping hand.

"Our teams and partners are playing a really important role in keeping people safe and we thank them for their efforts."

Blackpool Gazette article