This will principally be about the people who serve as chaplains but can also include other resources and facilities, especially if there is a room or area set aside for chaplains to work, meet with people and perhaps host events or activities.
Chaplaincy can be anything from one person who is available as required to a whole team of people, staff and volunteers, who work from a recognised chaplaincy centre within the educational institution.
Although not exhaustive, here are just a few models of chaplaincy that illustrate a variety of approaches. You will find a range of case studies in the resources section.
- A local minister has been approached by an FE college to be available one day a week as required. They aim to be in college on the same day each week, meeting students who want to chat and being available at lunch time. Sometimes they are invited to join in more formal occasions in the college year.
- An independent school with a Christian character employs a chaplain full time to assist with pastoral care, collective worship and eucharists, and some teaching.
- A large church has a youth minister who offers some time to the local secondary school. At the suggestion of the church and after consultation with the school it is decided that a more formal relationship between the youth worker and the school would recognise the youth worker as chaplain to the school. The youth worker works there one day a week under the management of the head of pastoral support and helps the school with student mentoring and spiritual development activities.
- The curate from the parish church works with their C of E primary school as chaplain, visiting one day a week to work with pupils and staff and also assists with school based community events.
- A teacher who has taken early retirement volunteers as chaplain at their local school where, as well as being there for pupils, their professional experience means they are welcomed as a supportive presence for staff.
- An academy employs a member of staff as chaplain. To increase the range of skills available and ensure gender balance a small team of volunteers is trained to support the work of chaplaincy part time.
- A church school employs an ordained priest half time as chaplain and the rest of their time they are employed by a local parish.
- A Christian educational trust employs a youth worker who works as chaplain in the local sixth form college two days a week and is recognised as one of the college staff. She meets students informally or by arrangement, contributes to lessons at the invitation of teaching staff and arranges college events that promote spiritual development. She also oversees the college multi-faith prayer room and liaises with other college groups to help support equality and diversity.