The Rev Tony Ruffell, WM's Senior Emergency Services Chaplain.

Workplace Matters (WM), a charity which has over 50 years’ experience providing chaplaincy to a wide range of organisations within the private, not-for-profit and public sectors, is launching a recruitment drive for people to serve as chaplains to the emergency services in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Most of WM’s chaplains – who give up between two and four hours each week to visit people at work – are drawn from practising Christians, either lay or ordained, who are connected to a recognised church. However, there are some Jewish, Muslim, Humanist and even Pagan workplace chaplains – to cater for the diversity of faiths represented in today’s Police, Fire and Ambulance services – and WM would be happy to hear from would-be chaplains of these faiths too.

Candidates need excellent social skills; should enjoy meeting people; be able to listen effectively; be cheerful, and be willing to learn how an organisation works. They also need to be able to work as part of a team and be sensitive to the many issues that arise in the workplace.
“Chaplains offer friendship and a listening ear to individuals and to organisations,” explained the Rev Tony Ruffell, WM’s Senior Emergency Services Chaplain in Hertfordshire. “They need to be available to all, regardless of religion or race, and they support staff of any faith – and none. In the current challenging economic situation, which is affecting the lives of all of us, workplace chaplains are more important than ever. And, with the Olympics coming up – and the consequent likely increase in emergency services’ activity especially in this area – there is a greater need than ever for people, both ordained and lay, to serve as chaplains.”

WM’s chaplains operate anywhere where people work but, primarily, they operate within the emergency services – in police stations, among fire and ambulance teams and so on – in the manufacturing industry; especially at Vauxhall Motors in Luton; in the ‘town centre retail’ environment; with those living and working along the Grand Union Canal, and at London Luton Airport.

If you would like to volunteer to become part of the chaplaincy team, contact WM at 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, AL1 1HE (tel 01727 818144) or email workplacematters@stalbans.anglican.org and/or tonyruffell@live.co.uk

Comment: These chaplains perform not only an impressive and extremely valuable role but it’s a role that is highly valued by those to whom they minister. There’s always room for more chaplains – so that the benefit that they bring can reach more and more people.