bluewater chaplaincy

Welcome...
Q. What does a chaplain actually do?
A. Each chaplain has an area which they try to visit regularly and where they aim to build a relationship with the people they see. The content of each visit is very varied and depends very much on what individuals will want to talk about. Very often it is simply being friends and "passing the time of day". But if someone has something which is of concern (personal or work related) then it may be appropriate to discuss it immediately or there is always the option of meeting up for coffee or in the Quiet Room at a break time or lunch time. The agenda is set by the person rather than driven by the chaplain. The existing chaplains are all Christians but they will not require people to hold similar beliefs in order to give help.

Q. Will chaplains offer counselling?
A. The chaplaincy service is not a counselling service. Chaplains will listen and show compassion, but if more specialist counselling is required then they are usually able to suggest possible organisations that a person can approach. Click here for some suggestions on this site.

Q. How does chaplaincy fit in with the business that is going on?
A. Chaplains have to be very sensitive to the people who are working and to their guests (the culture of Bluewater is to refer to the shoppers as guests). If someone is very busy, or if there are people wanting to be served then they must take priority. We normally try to go round at times when the shops we visit are not too busy with guests - individual chaplains find out what is right for them and their area

Q. What is the time commitment?
A. Approximately three or four hours per week. Sometimes the time may be less, sometimes more – particularly if someone has made an appointment to see them. Chaplains normally meet for prayer and to share issues with each other once a week.

Q. How do people join the chaplaincy?
A. Chaplains must be recommended by their spiritual leader and will then go through a period of approximately two months when they are given an opportunity to visit retail outlets with other chaplains and explore whether this is their calling. This “buddy” system works well and takes pressure off when people start out. It also enables the leaders to assess how things are going. A lot of confidence is placed in each chaplain and it is important that everyone is completely sure that the right people are members of the team. Chaplains share with each other and support each other – it is vital to do this.

Q. Is there any link with the people who run Bluewater?
A. The chaplaincy is independent, but we do have excellent links and are both supported and endorsed by Bluewater Management. Chaplains are issued with official Bluewater badges which gives acknowledgement that they are properly recognised and commissioned to do this work. There are regular meetings between Bluewater staff and the chaplains and we also have an excellent relationship with members of the Bluewater Retail Partnership – the group of retail representatives who liase with Bluewater management about what is happening in the centre.