00:00It was three years ago that the Maidstone Mall started doing this and we got involved then.
00:05And I would just like to point out, yes, the donations were down, but that's because this year
00:13the hub was only open for two weeks, whereas previously it's been open for about four weeks.
00:18And I mean, what was it like in comparison to last year? Obviously,
00:22it was open for a shorter amount of time, but you did receive a lot of donations in the end.
00:26I mean, maybe you didn't expect that amount.
00:28It's really humbling to see people coming in, not just with one gift, but with several gifts.
00:37We were quite specific in what we need or what we was asking for,
00:41because of people that we deal with in town on a Saturday night.
00:45You saw there things like the hot snacks, the street population that we meet.
00:52Yeah, we give them those pot noodles or cuppa soups and things to help them.
00:57But alternatively, with the nighttime economy, with the people that we meet that are out drinking, clubbing,
01:05we have things like bottled water and sick bags to help freshen them up if they've been a little bit unwell.
01:11Why are the donations so important, particularly at this time of year?
01:15For us, well, for all charities, it's really hard at the moment.
01:20And it's really, I say, humbling that people do give their time and their money to help us.
01:28I must have had, I don't know, two, three hundred pot noodles and cuppa soups come in and 50 odd bottles of water.
01:36And I say, those are things that we use when we're out in town every Saturday night.
01:41So to us, it's really beneficial.
01:44Tell us about the origins of the street pastors and how did it start?
01:47The street pastors itself has been running for almost 20 years now.
01:51And Maidstone was actually the first town in Kent back in 2008 to have street pastors.
01:58And here we are still going quite sort of jokingly.
02:03People often say, oh, yeah, you're those people that give out those those flip flops, aren't you?
02:08Yeah, we do. Because if ladies have lost their shoes or can't walk, we don't want them walking about in town barefoot because there's broken glass, there's bodily fluids.
02:22So, yeah, that's what we're sort of quite well known for.
02:25And we are there just to look after the nighttime economy, not stopping people having fun.
02:30We want people to have fun, but we try to make sure they do it in a safe way.
02:35And if they need help from us, then we'll be there for them.
02:39Of course. And obviously, it's very important that you are there to support those people who need your help at the time.
02:44And although the donation hub is now over, people can still donate to your page directly. Is that correct?
02:54Yes. I mean, like most places, we have a website where donations can be made, either goods or monies.
03:01There's all charities, you know, we're really struggling now.
03:06But yes, if people want to help, they certainly can. And we'd appreciate that. Thank you.
03:11All right. Thank you so much, Nigel. And best of luck for the Christmas period.
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