Rev'd Charles Nevin, Chair

Dear *FNAME*, it is appropriate that the renewed optimism about the fight against Covid-19 should coincide with the re-awakening that comes from Spring.  The lighter days, the gardens offering a riot of colours, the beginning of the nesting season for birds and the reassuring warmth of the Spring sunshine. 

Another sign of Spring is the arrival of butterflies, freed from their winter prison of the chrysalis they burst forth in a fragile blaze of colour.  In many ways this this a metaphor for our Chaplaincy.  We have been restricted in how we operate, frustrated by the constraints and now there is hope for a return, but what kind of return. It will never be the same, attitudes, patterns of work, fragile mental health, all present us with a new but imperative landscape.  We will again be providing Chaplaincy, but it will be subtly different, in lockdown we will have learnt new lessons and ways of working.  Some will no longer apply, others will provide a new and blended approach to Chaplaincy, a blend of physical presence and online engagement.  This will be particularly relevant now that many staff work from home on a more regular basis; the old familiar faces and team structures will be different.  I encourage you to welcome this renewed model of Chaplaincy and working with your local Force see how Chaplaincy can be given a new face and impetus; how it can make an even greater difference in this post-pandemic era.

How can PCUK help and engage in this ‘new world’, and what is your part:

• Role profiles:  We now have role profiles for Lead Chaplains and Volunteer Chaplains, and these have been approved and adopted by the College of Policing.  This is an important step in providing a common understanding of our work across the Police service.  Whilst practice may differ across the Police family it provides an understanding of the ‘gold standard’ but in no way criticises how many of us operate at the moment. You can find these in the members forum under 'PCUK Administration'. 
• Training:  We are developing a new Induction course based on a blended learning experience and spread over several months to provide high quality and in depth understanding of the skills of the role but offering space for personal reflection and development.  The Induction process can be the beginning of further CPD up to a Master’s degree.  This further training and development is being created in partnership with University of Wales Trinity St. David. Read more about this below.
• Conferences:  As you are aware the Covid pandemic has meant that we did not manage to hold our regular Conference in 2020 which we moved to 2021 however, again this was deemed too early in the easing of Covid restrictions.  Our residential Conference will now be held over the 20^th to 22^nd June 2022 at our usual venue, The Hayes, Swanick, Derbyshire.
• AGM and mini conference: In recognition that our regular Conference has been delayed we have a mini conference with our AGM on the morning of the 22^nd June this year.  We also hope to host one or more webinars over the Autumn and Winter.  Ideas for subject areas are welcome. Read more about this below.
• Elections:  The PCUK Board is a group elected by you, the membership.  The Board consists of paid and volunteer Chaplains to provide the breadth of experience needed on the Board.  This is where we need you.  We need people to offer themselves to be elected as Trustees to the Board.  More information will be provided about the process, but please think about serving in this way and making a difference to the influence of PCUK on continuing to build a professional and supported Chaplaincy service for the whole Police service. Read more about this below. 

I am standing down as Chair and Board member this time.  I thank you for your support during my term of office and I hope that PCUK will continue to grow and provide this vital caring service to all members of the Police family.

Charles

Rev'd David Wilbraham, MBE, National Chaplain

In a year overshadowed by the Covid pandemic our lives have been disrupted and changed in ways we could not have imagined. Policing has faced a time of great demand and pressure. We recall not only the difficulties of dealing with large scale public protest over this past year but also the new and unique way of having to Police this pandemic to keep people and communities safe. These challenges came into sharp focus recently in both London and Bristol.

Much chaplaincy work, especially by volunteer local chaplains, has been severely constrained by the restrictions and measures that forces have had in place to protect staff and maintain operational resilience. This has been frustrating for many chaplains has you have wanted to support officers and staff in more tangible ways. Despite the various innovative methods many have utilised to keep in touch and maintain contact it is not the same as the more usual and regular pattern of ministry you had and hopefully will shortly be able to return to.

Across Policing, just under 30 people have died ‘in service’ as a result of Covid. We are also mindful of others who have died of other causes during this time including, sadly, several suicides. Neither do we forget our retired colleagues and those who have suffered untimely death during this time. It is a further sadness that we have not been able, in so many instances, to say our farewells in the way we would have liked. Hopefully, there will be opportunities to address this in the coming months. Alongside all this many of you will have experienced huge demands in other ways as you have supported individuals and communities. You may also have experienced personal tragedy and loss amongst your own families and friends.

In the coming months and years, we will all face new  challenges as we return to a new normality. Chaplaincy will also need to consider what the experience of COVID 19 has taught us, what positive things occurred that we can build upon, what areas were not able to function well and where more thought is now needed for the future. Overall it is clear that, despite the restrictions, chaplaincy has been appreciated and there is an opportunity to build upon that. A number of Police Chaplains joined a recent webinar hosted by Theos looking at Chaplaincy during the pandemic. The webinar was based on a recent report that had looked at this specifically in a University setting though it was clear there are many commonalities. A link to the report and a recording of the webinar are available on our website in the members forum under 'external training. Login to view it.

As Spring arrives and lockdown eases the flowers will bloom. One of the most symbolic for me will be seeing again swathes of red poppies. I notice that they blossom in abundance where the ground has been broken and disturbed, turned completely over, in places that were seemingly destroyed. The red poppy will speak forever of commitment and sacrifice BUT It is also a sign of hope that from brokenness can blossom life, from destruction and devastation can come new growth and beauty.

As you notice the poppies, may they bring a renewed sense of joy, life, hope and love to you and your ministry.

David

Comings & Goings

Despite being in the midst of the pandemic with a much restricted Chaplaincy presence across most forces there is still activity going on and changes taking place.

It is encouraging to welcome new chaplains and chaplaincy teams in several forces. These include Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, Gwent and North Wales amongst others. We welcome Rev Jo Tatum as the new Lead Chaplain for Nottinghamshire and thank George Hadley for picking up the reins as Lead in Bedfordshire. 

We have also seen a couple of Lead Chaplains retire. These have included Rev Ali Earl [nee Lamb], South Yorkshire and Rev Tom Evans, Dyfed Powys, both of whom have been part of the Police Chaplaincy world for a good number of years and have supported Chaplaincy in their respective forces well as both having given time and energy in a national role.
Ali took over and developed the Chaplaincy in South Yorkshire at a time when the force and people within it faced a time of considerable pressure on a number of fronts. Not least of these was the Inquest into the Hillsborough tragedy and the chaplaincy provided valuable support to individuals involved in that. Ali was also part of the National Executive of what was then the National Association of Chaplains to the Police. Ali has retired to Cornwall with husband Rev Andy Earl, also an important part of Police Chaplaincy over the past years, prior to serving, with honours, as a military chaplain. We wish Ali and Andy well in this next chapter of life.


We also say farewell to Rev Tom Evans, Dyfed-Powys. Tom has been the Lead Chaplain for Dyfed-Powys Police since the recruitment and launch of their chaplaincy team in June 2012. In the Autumn of that year the chaplaincy was fully involved in supporting officers and staff, not only from Dyfed-Powys but from across the country, during Operation Tempest – this was the largest ever search operation in UK Policing history as Police investigated the disappearance of a young girl, April Jones, in Machynlleth. It was a demanding time for all concerned and the value of the chaplaincy, still in its infancy, was much appreciated. Since then, the chaplaincy has become very much part of day to day business supporting officers and staff by pastoral ministry as well as the force in an operational context. Tom has won much respect both inside and outside of the force and his retirement was noticed by local media. [Read the article here]. We wish Tom and his wife Marilyn well in their retirement.

At Dyfed-Powys we welcome Father Liam Bradley who will, having been a volunteer Chaplain for the force, take up his new post as Lead Chaplain for Dyfed-Powys after Easter [Press announcement here].

The chaplaincies in Humberside, Cleveland are being re-launched with new chaplaincies developing within Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence Police.