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Welcome to our new-look newsletter which we hope you will enjoy.
Our September multifaith prayer diary can be found on our website here.
This months newsletter features:
  1. Thanks to the pandemic women are being adversely affected in many areas of their lives
  2. Survey results from Workplace Chaplains and Supporters
  3. News from across Cambridgeshire
  4. Support for Chaplains
  5. CWC Listening Line for those needing support

Dear Diary, What a day it's been...

The words in the title come from a Moody Blues song written way back in 1969.

Now there may be some of you reading this article who weren’t even born in 1969, and even I only became aware of the song some years after that. However, whilst it is far from the greatest song ever written, I do sometimes find the catchy lyrics going round in my head for no apparent reason.

As I was musing over writing this article a few days ago, the lyrics came into mind and it reminded me about the potential health benefits of keeping a diary, or ‘journaling’ as it appears to be called these days. I have also seen the technique referred to as ‘expressive writing’.

Almost 12 months ago, I wrote an article for this newsletter, advocating the benefits of chatting in the workplace and I still passionately believe in the importance to our mental health of talking to friends and colleagues. However, for some people it may also be worth exploring the potential health benefits of journaling.

Journaling simply involves the regular keeping of a diary, or journal, that records thoughts and feelings in relation to everyday events. At its simplest, all it requires is a pen and paper, although clearly it can also be done on a computer or other device.

Making time to write in a journal can help people create time and personal space away from the busyness of life. Some people I have known use journaling as positive reinforcement to reduce stress, recording things that they have achieved that day, things they are grateful for, things they have enjoyed which can lift their spirits and build self-confidence. Whilst the actual act of reflecting and writing about positive things can help, journaling also offers the benefit of being a reminder of past good times when things are not going so well.

One way to deal with any significant emotions and feelings is to find a healthy way to express them and so some people use journaling to explore and release their emotions and feelings. This may help to provide some clarity about what drove those emotions and feelings, to help process what actually happened and to help find possible ways forward.  The simple act of writing things down can help people gain control of these emotions and feelings and so improve their mental health.

A consequent benefit may also be that having begun to process a stressful event by writing it down in a journal, it may then make it easier to talk to someone else about it.

There is no right or wrong way to keep a journal, people should do whatever works for them. How they structure their journal, when they write it and how much they write is a personal choice, however, it is probably best not to get too caught up with the act of writing itself – the use of the right words and grammar. 

My personal opinion is that it is helpful to end a journal entry with something positive, something that will give a bit of a mood lift. Whether that be potential solutions to problems, things that give hope for the future, or things to be appreciated or enjoyed in life.
 
Whilst recognising that journaling may not work for everyone and may not be their thing, it might just be worth considering. It is easy to get started and costs next to nothing.  
 
Peter Thatcher
CWC Trustee and Treasurer
 

Thanks to the pandemic women are being adversely affected in many areas of their lives.

Jane Thompson looks at the different evidence emerging and how it affects the workforce and asks is the essential nature of caregiving now being realised?

You may have read various articles recently documenting how women are being hit hardest during Covid-19. Being female, a working Mother and one who has been juggling homeschooling since February this is a topic close to my heart as I see the fallout affecting myself and friends.

As workplace chaplains return to workplaces and hear more anecdotes from people's differing experiences during lockdown I imagine the views from some women could be a very different story.

Due to the complex mix of lower paid work, being more exposed to the risk of infection, reduced working hours due to homeschooling; and even an increased risk of furlough or redundancy enforced by their employer (Mothers 47% more likely to lose their job compared to Fathers) women are indeed shouldering the brunt of a rapidly changing work and caregiving environment and frequently these collide.

The Guardian led with how the pandemic is destroying women's rights citing how women are bearing the brunt of the economic fallout and taking on a greater share of domestic work and childcare – while visits to the Refuge website are up 950%...they state - Is this the biggest ever leap backward for women?

Read the whole article here »

CWC Listening Line - leave a message at 0800 246 5193 or email support@cambsworkplacechaplaincy.org.uk
Survey Results - CWC survey of Chaplains and Supporters
Our Survey results are out! Thank you to all who completed our survey of supporters and workplace chaplains across Cambridgeshire. We feel reassured that we're on the right track of offering the support chaplains need whilst constantly promoting the value of workplace chaplaincy to organisations and staff. You can read the highlights of our survey here
Do you subscribe to Across Peterborough newsletter?
You can read the latest spiritual news from across the area and subscribe to the newsletter here (produced by our good friends at Light Project Peterborough)

Autumn courses offered by CAP Peterborough

The Open Door Trust & Open Door Church in partnership with CAP are running a free course on Money Budgeting with dates throughout September, October and November.

Also on offer during the autumn is their Kickstart - Let's talk about you series which can be accessed as one-off's or as a block of sessions. Topics will cover Health & Wellbeing including: 
A Healing You, Handling Habits, Anxiety and worry, Handling loss, Job Hunting, Discovering your strengths, Writing a CV, Interview skills and Money Management

Download a flyer » or contact Open Door Trust »

Across the City - Christian news for Cambridge and surrounding areas

A  monthly newsletter is put together by a group of Cambridgeshire Evangelical Churches to summarise news, meetings, vacancies and more. 

Various training events, zoom meetings and courses are listed so if you're Cambridge-based and interested in Christian related activities then it is worth downloading the most recent edition.

The editor for Across the City also welcomes suitable small advertisements.

Download a pdf of their most recent newsletter below:

Find out more »

A perspective of chaplaincy in care homes during lockdown
 

Revd Sean Finlay from Wisbech Interfaith Forum is keen to hear how others have adapted during lockdown...

'Prior to lockdown I had been leading a small team on behalf of Churches Together in conducting services in a number of the local care homes. We felt that we still wanted to maintain the link even if we could not visit in person. With that in mind early on in the lockdown I wrote to each of the homes in which we were involved and offered my phone number in case any resident or care worker wanted to chat. I received just one response to this'.

'Churches Together then organised the delivery of a pot plant to each of the homes - again to show that we had not forgotten them.  I wrote to a number of residents to again assure them that they were not forgotten and enclosed my phone number'. 

'Most recently with the emergence of Zoom I enlisted the help of one of my colleagues Robin Hine, a retired URC minister and he put together a service which we sent to each of the care homes. One care home responded very positively to this'. 
 
Sean goes on to say;
'I am sure that there are some imaginative schemes in operation during this time and would appreciate hearing examples. One example I came across is run by the Parish Priest of Poringland, near Norwich in which the service was transmitted into a local care home'.
 
'We are keen to resume live services but will have to wait until the green light is given. In the meantime information on what others are doing would be welcome.  
 
Best wishes, keep safe and well. Sean'.

If you have experiences to share please get in touch with CWC and we can pass these on to Sean.

Annual Chaplaincy Conference - Norwich/Zoom


Conference in Norwich (if restrictions allow) or by zoom on Friday 13 November 10am- 3.30.

Revd Chris Copsey has organised a chaplaincy conference for November and chaplains in Cambridgeshire are warmly invited.

Featuring Revd Dr Andrew Todd who has moved from Cardiff to Cambridge and is now Director of the Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology at Anglia Ruskin University and the Cambridge Theological Federation.

Andrew offers a day that is  a chance to explore contemporary spirituality in lots of different settings, both personal and public, including online settings. The day will enable all to reflect on how contemporary and traditional spiritualities intersect. These reflections will then allow a further exploration of how those involved in chaplaincy engage with contemporary spirituality to support people in their spiritual journeys.

If the conference in person can go ahead then it will be £10 to include lunch and drinks. By Zoom the cost will be the return of feedback forms by email!

Please let Chris know if you are able to join the conference by October 1st and book by 10th October 2020.
 

Email Revd Chris Copsey »

Support for Chaplains


We have been made aware of a free Psychological First-aid covid-19 online course. This particular course is suggested to take 3 weeks (assuming an hour per week) but can be followed at any speed and can be shared with wider chaplaincy teams too.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/psychological-first-aid-covid-19
Reminder that our new Bursary Scheme is open to workplace chaplains operating in Cambridgeshire. 

The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial support to chaplains who are seeking to attend a conference, training course or retreat that will enhance their ministry as workplace chaplains.

Grants of up to £500 are available for each successful application. No requests for bursaries to cover accommodation expenses, where these are in addition to the course or retreat fees, will be considered. For more information and an application form please email info@cambsworkplacechaplaincy.org.uk
Multifaith Prayer Diary - September 2020
Multifaith Prayer Diary - September 2020
Download our prayer diary to give focus to each day. Featuring different faith festivals, national awareness days and thoughtful prayers.
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