0 - 3 Hopscotch | 4 - 18 Girls’ Brigade | 5 - 12 Holiday Club | 9 - 13 Rock Solid | 13 plus Connect2 | Activites for children & teenagers
RBC has a parent and toddler group on Wednesday mornings. Children coming to the Sunday morning service join in with everybody for the first 20 minutes then go downstairs for Sunday School. Very young children are offered toys with which they can play either in the Upper Room or in a small room upstairs.
Lots of organisations use the George St Centre for their activities. A youth worker, Becca Overy, runs 2 youth clubs, and volunteers from other churches help in running Girls' Brigade and Holiday Club.
Street Pastors are on duty between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday nights, particularly in the Union St/ Esplanade area. They aim to help people in need. Offering comfort, security or simply conversation, they will ensure, for example, that young women get home safely. Non-judgmental and supportive, the 25 Pastors (aged between 30 and 80+) operate in teams of 5. Described. as ‘a light in the darkness’ they are supported by the police and the County Council.
Does it work? An intriguing comment:
Our co-ordinator recently met a police officer who told him, “I've been in the CCTV office for the last couple of weeks watching the street pastors working in Ryde. It's really interesting watching stuff happen on CCTV because people don't realise they are being filmed. I've been so impressed by the way street pastors work. The reaction from the public is amazing and positive. I can see people's body language change as they interact with them. The differences in reaction to the public dealing with them and the police is huge, especially the reaction of the young people towards them.” He added, “I was very sceptical about the scheme when I first heard about it, but now I'm convinced you are doing a worthwhile, productive thing for the community. I wish you well – keep up the good work.”
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