Southwark Report Internals final single

Higher Education
26
HIGHER EDUCATION CHAPLAINCY
Higher Education Chaplaincy across the
Archdiocese of Southwark is embodied by a
small team of chaplains working in a variety
of settings. There is a Diocesan chaplaincy
presence in Kings’s College London – Guy’s
Campus, Goldsmiths, University of London,
University of Kent and London South Bank
University – Southwark Campus and Kingston
University. We work closely with the
Chaplain at Digby Stuart College, University of
Roehampton who is employed by the university.
Working with her ecumenical and multi-faith colleagues in
Goldsmiths, University of London and London South Bank
University – Southwark Campus, Sr Anouska has continued
to reach out to staff and students on campus through her
presence in the library, the canteen and chaplaincy. Her
presence one day a week on each campus has enabled
students in need of a chat to come along and meet her
there. In Goldsmiths she has worked with her colleagues
to put on events celebrating the multi-faith response to
the environmental crisis just after COP 26 whilst also being
a faithful presence in the library each Wednesday evening
for students who may need someone to talk to. She
worked closely with colleagues to help plan and deliver the
annual Celebration of Christmas, an opportunity
to reflect on the Christmas story. In London
South Bank University she has helped staff and
students take time to reflect on the COVID crisis
by giving them the opportunity to remember
those who died and give thanks for those who
helped them in this time. Together with her
Anglican colleague she helped students and staff
dream of a brighter future taking the theme for
Holocaust Memorial Day, ‘One Day…’
Another significant part of 2021 for Sr Anouska
was the discernment to close St Hilda’s
Chaplaincy House at the end of the academic
year 2021/22. The decision was taken as whilst
it had been a key place for many students since
it opened in 1979, to when the final students
left at the start of the lockdown in 2020, the
move to online and hybrid learning raised
the question as to whether it was in the right
location. It was felt after much prayer and
reflection it was not and so the decision was
taken to close it. We give thanks for all that has
been able to happen through the house and all
who have helped run it and look forward in hope
for what Chaplaincy within Higher Education will
look like in the Archdiocese into the future.
Sister Anouska Robinson-Biggin
Advisor on Higher Education Chaplaincy