Delbert Sandiford has become the new Chair of the Trustees of Workplace Matters, an ecumenical charity which takes Christian values into the workplace. He succeeds the late Alan Harpham, who had been chairman of the charity for some years but who died in January this year.

Delbert – who has been appointed to his new post by the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Dr Alan Smith – was Chair of Hertfordshire Probation Trust from 2010 until July 2014. He has previously worked for the Diocese of Southwark and has been a member of the senior Civil Service, working at the Home Office.

Delbert Sandiford, Workplace Matters' Chairman.

Commenting on his appointment, Delbert said: “Workplace Matters is experiencing growing interest in, and demand for, its chaplaincy services – notably on the waterways as well as in its traditional heartland of London Luton Airport, Vauxhall Motors and the emergency services. The charity is also exploring and developing other avenues of service to Britain’s workplaces to help workers ‘bring their whole selves to work’ and, thus, become more engaged, motivated and productive in the workplace.

“Consequently, these are both exciting and challenging times for the charity,” he added. “It’s a privilege to be asked to help Workplace Matters enhance the services it offers and I’m looking forward to the task.”

A former Trustee of the USPG (Anglicans in World Mission), a 300-year-old Anglican missionary organisation, Delbert is, currently, the Vice Chair of Nacro, the crime reduction charity.

A graduate of the London School of Economics and a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Delbert is the author of ‘Multiethnic Church – a case study of an Anglican Diocese’.

Workplace Matters has 50 years’ experience of providing chaplaincy services in many contexts and, with initial support from the Salvation Army, is providing effective support for boaters in difficulty along the canals of the south east. Its volunteer chaplains have already established a reputation for providing friendship and support to boaters in any kind of need, regardless of faith.