Welcome to our November newsletter.
Our Prayer Diary can be found on our website here.

This months newsletter features:

The Place where I work...
CWC Listening Service
News from around Cambridgeshire
Chaplaincy at Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Interesting events from around the UK
Support for Chaplains
November Multifaith Prayer Diary

The Place where I work...

It sounds simple enough. The place where I work. My workplace.

We used to say this in a matter of fact statement in a conversation, and often it involved a physical description; a description of an organisation, based in a town, a specific industry, business park or office perhaps.

Of course, if you’re working in healthcare, or retail or perhaps education your workplace is still the same physical place; albeit with many modifications and possibly some virtual existence too.

But living through Covid-19 is showing how everything has been shaken up like a pair of dice, then thrown in the air whilst we all look around at where the dice have landed! Some of us are struggling with the constant uncertainty – it’s completely normal to feel like that as humans need some certainty. Read more including 7 steps to help seperate work and home life

CWC Listening service

Our service where you can reach a Multifaith Chaplain when needing emotional support is now an email request service.
Send an email to support@cambsworkplacechaplaincy.org.uk and we will put you in touch with one of our experienced, qualified volunteers. Thank you to all those volunteering their time to CWC.

Read more about our service here

News from around Cambridgeshire

The Garden House extends support as it celebrates two year anniversary

The Garden House in the Cathedral Precincts is run by Light Project Peterborough which has played a crucial role in supporting the most vulnerable during the crisis, both in getting rough sleepers off the streets and supporting them in hotels.

Celebrations have been muted with expectations of a tough winter ahead. Light Project Peterborough CEO Steven Pettican said: “We’ve supported the local authority since lockdown to ensure all rough sleepers can get accommodation off the streets through hotels. That’s been a big project for us. We’ve been running 24/7 support staff teams in those hotels alongside the local authority.

Find out more about their work »

City Centre Chaplains back in action in Peterborough

Peterborough City Centre Chaplains stood their work down during lockdown and had to change their thinking very quickly. Weekly prayer activities were the mainstay of their activity over the last months. Now, within restrictions they are trying to do what they have always done in Peterborough, reaching out and listening to folks in the city centre, knowing that in times of trouble people will turn to them for support and prayer.

Read Carlo's story »

Love@Work - 100 Years of the Industrial Christian Fellowship

The first ever history of the Industrial Christian Fellowship, published to coincide with the organisation’s centenary year.

The Industrial Christian Fellowship (ICF) is a national ecumenical organisation, which was founded on the Navvy Mission Society in 1877 and developed by the famous World War 1 chaplain, Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy - ‘Woodbine Willie’ - who worked tirelessly for Christian values to be demonstrated in the workplace and for all workers to have the freedom to grow into the fully human beings God planned them to be.

The book describes the highs and lows of ICF and explores the lessons and challenges of the past in seeking to develop a clear integration of faith and work. Combining history, sociology and theology, it comprises a fascinating study of the influences of faith, family and social context on our understanding of business, management, employment and community.

Love @ Work It is essential reading for all involved in contemporary mission: from workers organisations, management groups, and Christians engaged in the public square with an interest in faith, work, and politics.

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 »

Chaplaincy at Cambridgeshire Constabulary

On the International Day of Prayer for the Emergency Services in late June, I led a brief memorial event at the flagpole outside HQ to remember and give thanks for all emergency workers (police, NHS staff, ambulance, fire and rescue, carers and other key workers) who have sadly lost their lives this year due to the Covid19 pandemic.

In July I visited the Faizan e Madina and the Khadeejah mosques in Peterborough to meet faith leaders and explore chaplaincy recruitment.

In mid-August, I led another short memorial event at HQ to remember PC Andrew Harper of Thames Valley Police, who was tragically killed in the line of duty just over a year ago.

Best wishes, Revd. Lynda Taylor

Interesting events from around the UK

Monday 2nd November 19:00-21:00
Spirituality in mental health healthcare with Revd. Dr Alison Gray

University of Manchester PsychSoc are proud to be hosting a talk and discussion with Revd. Dr Alison Gray, Chair of The spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Revd. Dr Alison Gray is a recently retired consultant Psychiatrist from the West Midlands, and a Church of England minister.
In this event Ali will outline the evidence for spirituality in healthcare, the importance of being sensitive to the spiritual needs of service users, and the significance of spiritual values and beliefs in mental health care. Register here

Tuesday 17th November 13:00-14:30
Self-care for Staff and Volunteers

You can't pour from an empty cup - take care of yourself first!

During the course of the pandemic there has been an increase in volunteering, as we respond to those affected by the crisis. However as we are supporting others, who is it that helps the helper when the pressure of a role becomes too much, when we disagree with another volunteer or guest, or we have a bad day?

This is where the importance of self-care becomes apparent. Please know that you are not alone.

Join this session to hear how others are managing under pressure and, if you wish, share your stories. Hear some tips and strategies for Self-Care from a trained counsellor, with opportunities for further support if you need it. Register here

Thursday 12th November 09:00- 10:30 GMT
Spirituality: the new corporate trend?

Covid-19 has seriously tested organisations’ flexibility and capability to adapt and transform. Moreover, the well-being and health of employees has become pivotal in running a business these days.

In this webinar Hidde van der Pol – Founder of Conscious Energy Consulting – will explain how a healthy workforce, which comprises of physical, mental and spiritual health - can really drive effective transformation and make organisations more creative in their adaptability to change. Register here

Support for Chaplains

FREE mental health awareness webinar for Chaplains from our friends at CPSL Mind. We're pleased to offer a free webinar that explains mild to moderate mental health conditions along with tools to help someone develop a wellbeing plan. If you would like to access this webinar please email Jane via info@cambsworkplacechaplaincy.org.uk

STOP Suicide training webinar for workplace Chaplains - CWC have organised a specialised training for chaplains which will be a FREE 3 hour live webinar with a facilitator from CPSL Mind. If you are interested in attending please register your interest BY 6TH NOVEMBER and we will then organise a date to run this webinar. Places are limited with a maximum of 15 attendees. To access this webinar please email Jane via info@cambsworkplacechaplaincy.org.uk

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 - November 2020

Prayer Diary - November 2020

Download our prayer diary to give focus to each day. Featuring different faith festivals, national awareness days and thoughtful prayers.