TWO Chippenham street pastors were called upon to use their specialist training and help grieving families, friends and the people of Manchester following last week’s terrorist attack.

Michael Weeks, the co-ordinator of Chippenham Street Pastors, and Becky O’Brien, the headteacher of Marden Vale Academy in Calne, volunteered to go to the city last Wednesday and Thursday where they offered what support and help they could.

Twenty-two people, including children, were killed when a bomb went off at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena on Monday, May 22. A further 60 people were injured.

Both Mr Weeks and Ms O’Brien have been trained as response pastors, which prepares them to help others in the event of a major incident, whether that is flooding or a terrorist attack.

“It was in the back of my mind whether I should go,” said Mr Weeks, who trained as a response pastor last year.

“I had a chat with my wife and she was supportive of my decision. She knows I have done the training.

“We were there to provide a listening ear and people were coming to pay their respects. If they wanted to talk we talked. If they wanted a hug we gave a hug.

“I can only use the word solidarity. Everybody is in it together.

“Everybody was really caught up in the tragedy. It was tragic.”

Mr Weeks led a team of 16 people, including street and response pastors from across the UK.

Street Pastors is a charity founded in 2003 and is made up of volunteers who take to the streets of cities and towns ensuring that their communities stay safe.

Ms O’Brien said: “A month ago we had a training exercise in Chippenham, but I couldn’t have imagined I’d be deployed so soon in such a tragic context.

"The national co-ordinators asked for support for the Manchester pastors.”

“Our job is not to give advice but to take the time to listen to people carefully, comforting them and standing alongside them as they process what has happened. We worked alongside emergency services, local clergy and religious leaders of other faiths.

“On Wednesday we were deployed in St Ann’s Square, and there was a very subdued mood in contrast to the normal Manchester vibrancy.

“There was also a huge sense of solidarity and people standing together, and we got a lot thanks from people for being there.”