After 14 years, the Carlisle Street Pastors has announced they will stop lending a hand to the city's drinkers in 2025.

The group, first set-up in 2010, is there for people in Carlisle on a Saturday night who are in need of practical help but also emotional support.

They provide flip flops to people who are uncomfortable, offer water to those who have had a bit too much to drink, and lend an ear to anyone who needs it. 

Kathy Howe, area coordinator, says that there has been a 'perfect storm' of reasons that have led to the decision to stop their work which includes difficulties recruiting people, volunteers leaving, and fewer people going on a night out in the city centre.

They have a very small pool that they are able to recruit from as the street pastors have to be a Christian and then they also have to be comfortable with being out and about until 2am. 

"Recruitment recently has been impossible," she said.

"We just can't get more people, which means that people who leave at the other end because of a number of reasons, perfectly valid ones, our numbers have dropped. And we've got to a point where we're just barely viable.

"In addition to that, we've also discovered a big difference in the night-time economy in the city, particularly since COVID. 

"The night-time economy is so different that we just feel that our time has come."

When the Carlisle Street Pastors was established in June 2010, they had 25 volunteers who were committed to offering their help.

But, these numbers have dropped to eight people, and a minimum of three people have to go out. 

On top of this, there has to be a mixture of both sexes as well as a senior pastor.

"I'm not prepared to put anybody out more than once a month because it's not fair," said Kathy.

"It takes quite a lot to recover from and for older people of course it's harder and so, because I'm not prepared to do that, we're only putting teams out maybe twice a month at the most and ideally we should be putting people out every week."

A lot of the work that they do is 'unseen', a kind word here and there to someone who is struggling, or giving a woman a pair of flip flops has the potential to make a huge difference in their lives.

The Carlisle Street Pastors will stop operating in the city from January 1, their last night will be New Year's Eve.

"We've been doing it for 14 years and nothing is meant to last forever. There's a season for everything and we've had our season, it's time to call a halt."