When most of us are heading home for the night, a team of dedicated local volunteers is often just getting started.
Epsom & Ewell Street Pastors have been out in the local community since 2007, providing a friendly, caring and practical presence on the streets of Epsom during the night-time economy.
They are trained volunteers from local churches who give their time to care, listen and help people who may need a little support while they are out and about.
Street Pastors is a national initiative that began in 2003 and has since grown into a network of teams across the UK and internationally.
The Epsom & Ewell team is made up of volunteers from local churches and works in partnership with local churches, community groups, the police, the council and other statutory agencies.
The volunteers are easily recognisable in their uniforms, caps and bags, but what they offer is perhaps more important than how they look: a calm, approachable and non-judgemental person to turn to when someone needs help.
The simplest way of describing their role is caring, listening and helping.
The national Street Pastors organisation describes its volunteers as a peaceful and practical presence on the night-time streets, looking after anyone who needs support, regardless of their perspective on life.
In Epsom, the team is usually out on patrol on Friday nights, from around 10pm until 3am.
That might mean talking to someone who is upset, helping someone who has become separated from their friends, offering practical assistance to someone who needs it, or simply being there to listen.
It's often the seemingly small things that can make a big difference when someone is vulnerable or unsure what to do next.
Epsom has a busy night-time economy, with people enjoying the town's pubs, restaurants and other venues.
Street Pastors form part of the wider community effort to help people stay safe and to support those who may find themselves in difficulty.
The value of this kind of voluntary work has also been recognised through local community safety initiatives. Previous Surrey Safer Streets funding included support for Street Pastors in Epsom, including funding towards training and uniforms. Local authorities have highlighted the role they play in helping vulnerable people while allowing police and ambulance resources to remain available for other incidents.
It's important to remember that Street Pastors aren't there to replace the emergency services. Rather, they provide an additional human presence and practical support, working alongside other organisations.
Like so many community organisations, Street Pastors rely on volunteers who are willing to give their time to help others.
Nationally, Street Pastors are volunteers from different churches and walks of life. Volunteers need to be Christians who are part of a local church, concerned about their community and willing to work as part of a team alongside other agencies and projects.
The training helps volunteers understand how to carry out their role safely and effectively.
For those who feel called to get involved, becoming a Street Pastor can be a very practical way of putting faith into action and contributing to the local community.
We don't always notice the people who help make our towns safer and more welcoming.
Street Pastors aren't necessarily the people making headlines or organising large events. Instead, they're often quietly going about their work late at night, talking to people, offering reassurance and helping when someone finds themselves in a difficult situation.
And that's something worth recognising.
Epsom & Ewell Street Pastors have been part of our local community for almost two decades, and their work is a great example of local people giving their time to look after other people.
If you'd like to find out more about Epsom & Ewell Street Pastors, including volunteering and how to get in touch, visit their local Street Pastors page.
Local organisations like Street Pastors are part of what makes our community stronger.
At thebestof Epsom & Ewell, we love highlighting the people, organisations and initiatives that are making a positive difference across Epsom, Ewell and the surrounding area.
