Faiths and further education - Church of England

17The chaplain’s role• The chaplain has an informal organisational role, and somehow,perhaps by offering different perspectives on an issue, makesthings happen or turn out better than otherwise might be thecase.• This is different from the student counsellor who has a formalorganisational role and is part of the organisational anddisciplinary structure.• Never forget that being a chaplain is also about celebration.• The chaplain is a soul friend or spiritual adviser who also needs tobe accountable and to have emotional resilience.Advice from students38Students recognise in the chaplain somebody who:• they feel will be able to help them• they like and respect, somebody they know, somebody that theycan talk to• will not exploit them in any way• can perhaps intervene to make the organisational proceduresoperate in a more human and humane way, helping them not tobe crushed in the system• in some cases, belongs to the same religious tradition.Some students have preconceived notions about churches andother faith bodies, and may see faith bodies as conservative andold-fashioned.“I can’t stand the men in black. But our chaplain isn’tlike that – everybody knows her and knows they cansay anything to her.” (Principal)