New chaplains join EEAST

On Monday night (12th December), seven new chaplains were commissioned by the Right Reverend Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford, to support ambulance staff, volunteers and their families.

Chaplains have played an integral part within the ambulance service for many years, offering pastoral, emotional and spiritual support to all levels of staff regardless of their faith, belief or none. Over the past year, Lynda Logan, Lead Chaplain, and her team have been looking to develop the chaplaincy by recruiting chaplains throughout all six counties so that they can extend their traditional role which includes the provision of a listening and confidential ear in times of personal and professional need.

Chaplains are commissioned by the Church for their ministry in the workplace and the organisation in which they are working. This week, the newly appointed chaplains were commissioned at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral during Suffolk's Emergency Services' Carol Service. Lynda Logan said, "It was a privilege to be able to hold the commissioning of our new chaplains in such a beautiful setting and on such a joyful and festive occasion. Just as the Christ-Child came in peace as a servant, so the chaplains promised to serve the needs of those who work in our ambulance service and to work collaboratively alongside their colleagues in the other blue light services."

Chief Executive Robert Morton said: "I am delighted that more chaplains have been commissioned, as they provide an extremely important service for our staff, volunteers and families.  I would like to thank Lynda for her hard work in helping boost our chaplain numbers as I know this will make  a real difference to our people."

Also present were representatives of the Co-Operative Funeral Care in Luton; the East of England Co-Operative Charitable Fund and Cambridgeshire People at Work which donated money to buy the chaplains' uniforms. Lynda added: "I would like to thank all three organisations for their generous donations: being able to provide our chaplains with their uniforms will make them easily recognisable and approachable to staff."

Published 15th December, 2016