I was introduced
to Police Chaplaincy by my son who is a serving Officer. He entered his service via Hampshire and was impressed at the role and opportunities that Chaplains had that could support officers, staff and families. In Hampshire it was a visible part of his working life. He thought that I had the skill from my own ministry experience to be a Chaplain. After application and appointment as a volunteer to Thames Valley 4 years ago I have found that my skill set, his guidance , TVP and PCUK Chaplaincy training and support all blended well into an opportunity to serve the Police community in welfare and wellbeing in the difficult day to day challenges faced in today’s policing .
In my professional life after a long period of teaching I switched to working for Children's Services in West Berkshire. First working in fostering and adoption then for the last 7 years in the Leaving care team. (16-25 year olds). I have become grounded in working as a team member to help and support people in their most difficult times. Serving, supporting and listening in the absence of judgment is a key element.
In all areas of work and service I believe in the structure of supervision and working as part of a team , sharing and reflecting on how best to meet the needs of those whom we serve. I strongly believe in the responsibility of looking after myself and family to protect against the traumas and emotional stress that can come in working in both my professional and voluntary role I try to be proactive and do what we advise and encourage others to do in wellbeing and personal welfare. I have my faith and wholly respect the faith of others to worship whom, where or what they may. My faith enables me to find light in some of the most darkest of times. I have felt embedded with the officers, staff and families within TVP in the Reading area as I believe that the light that Chaplains bring to the workplace, home or any environment, brings comfort in their difficult working life of dealing or protecting against the those who do harm.
I believe that the police Chaplaincy UK board is a place where nationally standards can be set for the whole of the UK of good practice. That is the place to listen, learn and share the skills, resources, practices from all the forces in the UK. I believe that it would be a good platform to understand the needs of the UK policing as we move forward and evolve. From my own experience in the last 4 years there has been lots of changes as Policing meets the changing demand of the job. Covid, budgets, recruitment public opinions and funding have had their impact on Policing.
The unity and support that UK Police Chaplaincy can provide the Chaplains and Police forces in the UK can have a direct positive impact on individual officers , staff and their families ,Officers like my son and the growing number of officers staff who have invited me into the blue family .
