Good Work Annual Report to AGM

Good Work (Norfolk and Waveney Industrial Mission) Ltd

Chair’s report to AGM 16th July 2009

Good Work is now a limited Company and a Charity. It became a company on 16th January 2008, and was registered as a charity on 22nd July 2008

The first year as a company has been a difficult one, primarily due to Chris Warner, our Team Leader’s untimely illness and death. Chris had great visions for Good Work but his illness and death prevented them being achieved. Chris had also to give much of his time to the needs of the URC in Norwich where he was the Strategic Team Leader for 50% of his time. He was hoping to be able in the near future to give more time to Good Work and deliver some of his hopes. In any event we were hampered in our work by the difficulties of funding

Team News

The Team has carried on their hard work without Chris’ help and guidance since his illness and I am very grateful to them for that.

Currently the Team is:

The Rev Peter Paine, a full time post as Port Chaplain in Great Yarmouth, including chaplaincy to the Town hall and approx one day per month as a chaplain at a London Hospital.
Mr Steve Andrews, a part time chaplain in Great Yarmouth to Camplings Laundry, ASDA, Great Yarmouth Borough Council Services staff and the Norfolk County Services’ (now called NORSE) staff in Great Yarmouth
The Rev Peter Glanville, a part time chaplain to British Sugar at Cantley and to ANGLE, and as one of a team of chaplains to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston
The Rev Chris Copsey, a part time chaplain to County Hall Norwich. Chris was appointed early in 2008 to succeed the Rev Michael Lamb. The post was initially one day per week but due to a substantial increase in demand on her time as chaplain this has been increased to one and a half days per week.
Mr David Freeman was the part time chaplain in Thetford to business generally and to the Fire Service and the Police in particular. His work was overseen and partly paid for by Christians together in Thetford. He has recently retired from the full workload but retains the Police and Fire Service roles. Christians Together are I understand currently trying to recruit a replacement
Major Dawson of the Salvation Army was engaged by Princes Street on a part time basis to work with the various groups who use their premises. That arrangement has now ceased .
There was some time ago a possible chaplaincy in Chapelfield Norwich but the person who said they would take up the role decided not to do so. No steps have been taken to find a replacement. It was on Chris’ shopping list.

Finances

A difficult area. Other papers on this agenda deal with this topic.

The Future

In my view and from the experiences of the team it is clear, that there is a growing demand and need for the chaplaincy which our team members provide. Many businesses and agencies provide paid chaplains for their operations, e.g. hospitals, prisons, universities, colleges, etc, but people in the workplace generally have a great need for support of the kind our chaplains give.

This is not just because of the current economic difficulties but also because in the present stressed state of life in the 21st century in the western world, people are searching for comfort and a listening ear, and counselling and support to cope with their life’s difficulties.

I have no doubt that had we the resources we could recruit more chaplains into the workplaces of Norfolk and Waveney and their presence and practice would be of great value. Pending the arrival of a new Team Leader the year ahead must be to maintain the current chaplaincies, hold the annual conference, support one another, and seek new funds to pursue our aims.

Broader engagement with the community as Chris wanted must I fear wait until we have a firm base of chaplaincy for those who need it. I hope the AGM will support this approach.

Barry Capon

Chair

Good Work