A volunteer scheme which helps create a safer late night town centre environment for all has been given a cash boost by the Council's Big Society Fund.

Clacton Street Pastors, which is run by Churches Together in Clacton, has received £8,487, to help get the scheme set up and meet its operating costs for the first year.

It is the 14th successful award under the Big Society Fund and takes the total awarded so far to £148,299.

Clacton Street Pastors was launched on Saturday (December 3) and follows a national scheme which supports adults in a vulnerable state when they leave late night premises.

They work with the support of the local council and police but aim to be an independent initiative. Street crime has been significantly reduced in towns where they work, some by as much as 75 per cent.

The teams provide a presence on the streets between 11pm and 3am making sure people getting home safely after a night out. They try to intervene prior to a crime being committed by talking and listening.

Peter Halliday, TDC's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said the Big Society Fund panel was delighted to approve the award to Clacton Street Pastors.

"It is an important scheme which works well elsewhere around the country and we are pleased to welcome it to Clacton," he said.

"Any initiative which can help to create a safer environment on the streets of our towns is to be applauded and encouraged.

"The street pastors will work in partnership with the Clacton SOS mobile unit which is being set up by the Tendring Community Safety Partnership and gets off the ground on January 8, 2012."

Rev David Titley, of St Paul's Church who is involved with the street pastor scheme, said the award of almost £8,500 will make a huge difference.

"The Big Society Funding has ensured the project can come to fruition and enables one-off start up costs to be met. Once in operation the scheme aims to be self-funding," he said.

"We intend to make a difference in Clacton and this award has made a big difference to what we can provide in the town."

So far TDC has received 97 applications to the Big Society Fund, of which 25 have been given the all-clear to progress to the final stage of consideration.

The Council set aside £500,000 for the Big Society Fund which went live in March.

The aim of the fund is to help voluntary groups and organisations to deliver projects with significant community benefits, help ensure their long-term sustainability or save the Council money.

It is not designed to augment income that would offset ongoing revenue costs.

All the information about the scheme and how to get started is available on the Big Society webpages.

7/12/11