Faiths and further education - Church of England

59• partnerships with local communities – faith communities,community regeneration etc, employers and other clients(private and public sector)• external networks (local authority and education networks;LSC/regional structures; faith community networks; dioceses etc;local communities, partnerships, voluntary sector etc) – Coventryand Warwickshire; Leicestershire.The aim is to lead to increased growth, both in terms of studentrecruitment and employer involvement.Institutional ethos/conscience• policies and procedures – e.g. compliance with EUdirectives/government legislation on equality, religion and beliefetc• advice/support of students after 9/11, the London bombings• ethical issues – Fair Trade in the colleges, Make Poverty History(staff conference).Income generationNew areas of curriculum:• Youth Work Level 3 diploma• RE, theology, ethics (popular among students).Does it have to be a chaplain?So why don’t colleges just employ a roving nice guy to fulfil thedifferent functions I have outlined above? Why a chaplain? I believethere are three main reasons that place chaplains in their uniqueposition to undertake these important roles.CredibilityThe chaplain’s membership of known and respected organisations –faith communities – means that the chaplain is associated with thevalues of a wider institution and therefore is generally trusted. It isalso recognised that their care extends beyond their ownsponsoring organisation.This is equally important with other localfaith communities – especially faith communities after the Londonbombings.IndependenceChaplains are in a position which offers unique access to peopleand places within the college.Although they work within theorganisation, no matter how they are funded chaplains are neverseen as working wholly for the college, and therefore have accessacross the many boundaries — inter-departmental, hierarchical etc— that exist within all colleges.This, for chaplaincy at its best,enables the development of a comprehensive and informed view ofthe college, which can be shared with the principal and/or seniormanagement team whenever appropriate.Faith in societyThe churches and faith communities have traditions of caring forindividuals within and beyond their own faith communities and ofparticipating in and commenting upon public life. In Britain, theChurch of England (for reasons of history and theology) has aparticular interest in the public institutions of our common society,so may be particularly suited to undertake a lead or co-ordinatingrole (though not necessarily – the previous chaplain was Baptist).This public role is especially important in education and it meansthat the chaplain has the opportunity to appropriately use theaccess mentioned before and offer to principals an independentand supportive (though at times perhaps also critical) reflection ontheir college, the college’s ongoing health and its role in thecommunity and wider society, to the benefit of everyone.ReferencesTurner,A. and Kimber, K. (2003) Whole People Matter, London:Church of England and Methodist Church.Address for correspondenceMarion PlantPrincipalNorth Warwickshire and Hinckley CollegeHinckley RoadNuneatonCV11 6BH