A quote from Julia Burton-Jones at General Synod!
It was exciting to hear the importance of Anna Chaplaincy in an ageing population being discussed at the Church of England Parliament, General Synod. Not only were stories shared illustrating the impact of good pastoral care for the older person, but an exciting motion was passed recommending that Anna Chaplaincy should be recognised and commended across all Dioceses.
The following motion was passed overwhelmingly:
That this Synod:
(a) recognise and commend the important work of “Anna Chaplaincy” and “The Gift of Years”’;
(b) request all dioceses to raise the profile of work with those diagnosed with dementia and their carers; and
(c) call on Her Majesty’s Government to report on progress on the achievement of the Prime Minister’s “Challenge on Dementia 2020”, and on what steps are being taken to join up health and social care to ensure the seamless transition from one to the other for people with dementia.
Recognising the increasing value of the role Anna Chaplains have in supporting the emotional and spiritual care of the older person, Bible Reading Fellowship, The Gift of Years, have changed their emphasis to become BRF, Anna Chaplaincy with a new website and blog (https://www.annachaplaincy.org.uk)
Caraway Anna Chaplains play an essential role in resourcing the spiritual well-being of the older person in Southampton (https://www.caraway.uk.com/how-we-help/anna-chaplain/) We plan to develop a wider network of Anna Chaplains over the coming year so that we can respond to the increasing demands of social isolation, frailty and the challenges of facing the end of life with peace and hope.