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Universities’ in LeedsChaplaincy Report

2013/14

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IntroductionOur aim in this report is to highlight the work we undertake and tocelebrate our achievements over the past academic year.

Who we are

The Leeds Universities’ Chaplaincy Team serves staff and studentsacross both the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University.

The Chaplaincy offers spiritual and pastoral support to students andstaff. We provide drop-in pastoral and spiritual care, space formeditation or reflection and opportunities for worship and spiritualdevelopment.

The team works under the auspices of the West Yorkshire EcumenicalCouncil (WYEC), a body comprising a number of Christiandenominations which have covenanted to work together to provide aChaplaincy service at these Universities. This responsibility isdischarged through the work of the Chaplaincy Trust which hasTrustees from both Universities and most of the denominations inWYEC.

What we doAs part of our service level agreement with the Universities we offer: pastoral care spirituality values and ethics community building

This year we have highlighted our regular events through the eyes ofthose attending our activities.For more information on our other events please refer to our website:www.unichaplaincy.org.ukor ‘like’ our facebook page: Universities Chaplaincy in Leeds

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PrefaceThe positive psychology movement continues to promote the benefitsof nurturing ‘an attitude of gratitude’. However, for centuriesphilosophers and religious leaders have recognised the integral rolethanksgiving plays in well-being. Grateful people tend to followhealthier lifestyles, have better immune systems and less stress and ofcourse, I’m all for that. Therefore, on behalf of the team, it is withgreat joy that I am able to write this opening reflection and givethanks for the new opportunities that have come our way this year andsay a big thank you to those who have moved on to pastures new.

Some of the new opportunities included; erecting a huge Yurt inassociation with Leeds Church Institute and using it as a venue to listento students stories about living in Leeds: Our Café Church communitybeing invited to lead a workshop at Greenbelt and facilitating linkswith music societies with the local Methodist Homes for the Aged.Therefore, we continue to plan for our regular events, but as a team,we stay open to the flow of the spirit which often stretches us intonew.

At the beginning of last year we also didn’t know that our team wouldsignificantly change shape again as we say goodbye to Seija, Chris andEllie and Felicity. We give thanks for their commitment and how theyhave enriched us in their own unique way. This reshaping howevermeans that, as a team and in association with the universities andtrust, we have to continually work out how we can most effectivelyrespond to the needs and opportunities around us.

Finally, I personally would like to give thanks to those behind sceneswho make the chaplaincy run smoothly on a day to day basis; Sharon,our service manager, Alan who has thrown himself in to the role oftrust chair and our respective denominations who release us to servethe university communities in this way. And not forgetting thecountless volunteers who give their time so generously week in, weekout at our regular weekly and monthly events.

And it is with these events is mind, that this year’s report will focus.

Blessings

Caroline Ryder (Co)Co-ordinating Chaplain

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The Team (as of July 2014)

Our Chaplaincy team is made up of a mixture of volunteer andstipendiary Chaplains drawn from nine denominations.

ChaplainsRev. Prof Michelle Briggs (Anglican)Rev. Peter Clarkson (United Reformed Church)Robin Fishwick (Society of Friends)Rev. David Humphries (Baptist)Fr. Peter Kravos (Catholic)Laurence Pusey (Baptist)Rev. Caroline Ryder (Methodist)Anna Spiegel (Baptist)Rev. Matt Ward (Anglican)

Associate ChaplainsPastor Kim Chan (Leeds Chinese Christian Church)Pastor Johnny Chan (Leeds Chinese Christian Church)

Chaplaincy Trust staffSharon Almond (Chaplaincy Service Manager)Ellie Whitmore-Titterton (Student Outreach Worker)

Trustees (as of July 2014)

Alan Deacon (Trust Chair)

Ann Dudkinski (Company Secretary)

Denominational TrusteesOwen Hartley (Yorkshire Synod of United Reformed Church)Joyce Hill (Diocese of Ripon and Leeds)Nigel Howarth (Yorkshire Baptist Association)Michael Kelly (Diocese of Leeds)Marianna Potterton (Lutheran Church in Great Britain)David Waller (Leeds District of the Methodist Church)Rachel Muers (Leeds Area Meeting of the Society of Friends)Vacant (The Yorkshire Division of the Salvation Army)

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University TrusteesCatherine Lorigan (University of Leeds)Darron Dixon-Hardy (University of Leeds Staff)Vacant (Leeds Metropolitan University)Jan Daley (Leeds Metropolitan University Staff)

Chair’s ReportThis necessarily brief Annual Report can give only an impression of theextent and diversity of the activities undertaken by the ChaplaincyTeam across the two universities.

When I became Chair of the Trust in September 2013, I wasimmediately struck by the very high regard in which the Chaplaincy isheld both within the management of the two universities and acrossthe broader communities of staff and students. This is itself atestament not only to the hard work of the Chaplains and those whosupport them, but also to the imagination and energy with which theycontinue to develop and extend the services they offer.

In this they are encouraged and supported by the Trust, and I amgrateful for the enthusiasm and commitment of my fellow Trustees. Inparticular, my early days as Chair were made much easier by theadvice and help of my predecessor, Rev. Barry Miller, and of FelicityHildred the Company Secretary. Sadly, Felicity found it necessary toresign her position later in the year due to the pressure of her othercommitments, but we were extraordinarily fortunate to find anotherexcellent Company Secretary in Ann Dudzinski. Also during the yearthe creation of the new Student Education Service at the University ofLeeds lead to Andrew Parkinson being succeeded by Catherine Loriganas the Trustee nominated by the University, while Jan Daleysucceeded Prof Sally Glen as the Trustee nominated by what is nowLeeds Beckett University.

Finally, I should like to record my thanks to Robin Fishwick andCaroline Ryder, who shared the role of Co-ordinating Chaplain duringthe year, and to Sharon Almond who, as Chaplaincy Service Manager,attended to a host of administrative tasks with unfailing efficiency andgood humour. It has been a pleasure to work with all three of them andit is they who should take much of the credit for the continuingsuccess of the Chaplaincy.Alan Deacon Trust Chair

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Final Year ReportsStudent Outreach Report

Ellie Whitmore-Titterton (Student Outreach Worker)

So much has happened in time as Student OutreachWorker that I don’t really know where to start, so I willfocus on the highlights for me.

The ‘Big Nights In’ became a reality and they were someof the best Thursday nights of the year. Sharing MontyPython’s Life of Brian with people who had never seen it

before was wondering, Life of Pi on the big screen and showing RobinHot Fuzz are nights I am not going to forget in a while. And I definitelywont forget playing Mario Kart Wii with some very competitivestudents! I practiced for months and they still beat me!

A big highlight for me was going to the community of Taize in France inJuly. I took a group of 5 students and 2 adults on a Pilgrimage of Trustto the monastic community and it really was a journey of trust.Trusting people to turn up on time (just!) to the coach. Sleeping in atent for 10 days with showers that were just about clean in themorning (seriously, the amount of sand in there at 7 in the morningwas mind boggling!) but most of all trusting people to journey withyou on pilgrimage, to share personal reflections and emotions thatnormally you do not share with anyone. It was an emotional time, thepreparation was stressful, but it was the most amazing spiritualexperience I have ever had. Seeing the light of the resurrection, asthe world holds the light of Christ you realise what Jesus meant whenwe said to his disciples ‘you are the light of the world’. You see theworld alight with the love of God, people from every corner of theworld gathered to worship, to pray and to carry the light out into theworld. Even 2 weeks later I have goose bumps thinking about it.

But the biggest highlight has to be the students I have had the privi-lege of meeting, befriending and accompanying over the past twoyears. The knitters of Stitch ‘n’ Bitch, Brass Band, Fencing, CathSoc,CU. The list goes on and on. And then there were students who simplystopped by the trolley for a cup of tea or coffee, it was wonderfulserving them and getting to know them, even if it was just for a fewminutes.

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As I move across the road to Student Education Services, I can only saythank you to you the Universities Chaplaincy in Leeds Trust for givingme the opportunity to spend two years as your Student OutreachWorker. It has been a pleasure, and if you ever need more cake forteam meetings and trust meetings, Sharon has my number.

God bless.

Final Year ReportsInternational Report

Seija Frears (Lutheran and International Chaplain)

Some years ago Sandra, a Brazilian lady came into thechaplaincy. She said that she now lived in Australia withher American husband who was a visiting scholar at theUniversity of Leeds. She was a Catholic so I gave her theChaplaincy information leaflet and the ISC flyerwelcoming her to our events. I saw Sandra again the

following Wednesday and she told me that she had been to CatholicMass and had found a warm welcome. She was also very happy toattend the International Students Club (ISC) and meet so manyinternational students there and in the following weeks Sandracontinued coming to the Club. On her last Wednesday she wanted tothank everybody, saying that when she came to Leeds she felt lonelyand in the ISC she found “a home away from home”.

The above story illustrates the purpose of the ISC. The Club wasstarted by the initiative of St George’s church Rector, the Revd CanonDavid Hawkins, in 1986 and subsequently became one of the mainactivities we offer for international students and also home students.The pioneering volunteers were Ann and Stuart Roberts, Janet andPhilip Sykes, Liza Cox and Mavis Freeman. Through their faithful andpatient work the Club kept going through the years. Later on (1998)Hal Strangeways joined the ISC team as a leader, and still is activelyinvolved with volunteers from local churches.

The partnership with Chaplaincy has always been important. In thechaplaincy team the support for the Chinese students developed in anew way when Kim and Johnny Chan joined the team.

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More than a decade ago the ‘Culture Shock Comedy Drama’ wasdeveloped to help international students get over the culture shockthey experience in a new country. Demand for the drama is high witha number of live performances every year, the production of a DVDand also on-line availability on YouTube.

A strong and fruitful co-operation has always existed between theuniversities international students’ services and their leaders, namelyKaren Griffith and Katy Manns.

The move to the Emmanuel Centre in 2004 was one of the highlights ofmy 14 years in the Chaplaincy. Simon Robinson played a crucial role,arranging for Emmanuel church to be sold to the university for £1 whothen subsequently spent millions of pounds in refurbishing it so that itbecame a friendly and spacious chaplaincy home for everybody. Thisnew venue enabled us not only to host considerably more students atthe club but also to start a programme of annual International GospelConcerts. About the same time, Theresa Pioro (from Leeds Metropoli-tan University) initiated the popular ‘Cooking and Friendship’ eventswhich take place under the chaplaincy umbrella helping internationaland home students to learn culinary skills and sample the resultantdishes together. The cooking events organisation passed on to BevKenny and now take place in Leeds University Refectory with chefSimon Wood.

The origination of the Chaplaincy Trust gave birth to a new structurefor the Chaplaincy. Also important was the formation of theInternational Students’ Club Advisory Council comprising membersfrom both universities and local churches to whom the ISC ExecutiveCommittee would report biannually. In recent years a few Finnishshort term interns have reinforced the team in the international workand at the same time learned about life and work in the UK.

ISC has been continually blessed with a faithful team of volunteers andsupporting partners who have helped the ISC reach its 26th year. It ismy privilege to pass the baton of my responsibilities on to AnnaSpiegel who will continue with the all-important love for God and forthe international students and with the necessary discernment andwisdom.

‘All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching moreand more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory ofGod.’ 2 Cor 4.15.

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First Year ReportsFirst Year Chaplain Report

Anna Spiegel (Baptist Chaplain)

When I arrived from Texas two years ago, I assumed myvisa would be granted and I could start work straightaway. I assumed, having lived abroad for many years,that I would easily manoeuvre through culture shock andthat I would slip seamlessly into the role ofYorkshire Lass. I felt confident that my adaptability and

flexibility would allow me to understand a new university system andthe work environment of a UK team. I just knew that I would feelconnected immediately to my new colleagues and role and that lifewould be grand. I had very high expectations. But as we all know, liferarely goes as planned.

After a year of waiting for a visa, struggling to understand “the Britishway of life” and not truly being allowed to do any work, I threwmyself into the role of Chaplain last July. Even though I’d been aroundfor a year, I had no idea what I was doing, but through trial and errorand guidance and direction from Seija, Sharon and countless others, Islowly began to understand how much I didn’t know. I’ve been sograteful for the experience of being able to learn. With Seija on studyleave for much of the year, I was able to learn how much of the inter-national student work was done through her meticulous notes andemails, but had freedom to make it my own. The International StudentClub volunteers gave me space to make mistakes, which I did fromtime to time, growing together as a result. I learned more about thestudent experience from Ellie, and was introduced to uni societies andthe power of a cup of tea to bring people together. Through thesupport and prayers of my fellow chaplains, I was better able tohandle the emotional ups and downs that come with being in a stateof transition for so long. It was a challenge, but a good one.

I look forward to the coming year, i'm sure it won’t be withoutstruggles, but I am grateful for the opportunity to step in to such agreat role, for supportive colleagues, great students and a chance toshare my heart and experience with students and staff from manycountries, cultures and cities across the UK. It’s been a greatexperience so far and I am excited to see what the Lord has in storefor this coming year!

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Cafe Church

Emma – an undergraduate studentCafé Church has become a reallyimportant part of my university life,both for the friends I’ve made andthe encouragement that it providesfor my faith. It’s important to havean open space where genuinediscussion can take place withoutjudgement or argument. Caféchurch provides this, as well asfellowship with a close-knit group of friends.

We started the year off looking at the kingdom through bible studiesand activities. It really helped me to think further about the wellknown parables to discuss their context and see them visualised. Forexample, we looked at the parable of the mustard seed, and discussedthat mustard seeds used to be a weed that could grow anywhere reallyquickly; it was also seen as a menace in well-kept gardens. With theseimages the story made a lot more sense, and provided more food forthought than when I had previously heard it read in church. We alsogot to take some mustard seeds home to grow them, which provided anice reminder of the parable throughout the week. This is what makesCafé church so engaging; we really get involved in the bible story ortheme and are encouraged to relate it to how we live our own lives.

I was also drawn to Café church because of the shared leadershipaspect. Each week someone different leads the meeting, which bringsa variety of styles and ideas, and also gives each member the chanceto include something they are interested in or are keen to discuss. Forexample, Christine studies fantasy literature, so based a session shewas leading around maps in fantasy novels as a way of looking at howwe view the world around us. Not only does this help us get to knoweach other better, it also promotes the feeling of equality in thegroup, which is key to openness in discussions.

Café church is an amazing and entirely unique way to experience faithand fellowship, and has become an important part of my life as astudent and a Christian. I can’t wait to continue to meet and worshiptogether at Greenbelt and next year.

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Vicky – a member of staff

I've been involved with cafe church from the very beginning - almost 9years ago. After taking the bold step of forming a church communitybased on the idea of 'turning up and seeing what happens', I am nowpart of a vibrant, engaging and supportive community which stretchesacross continents. This is thanks to our motto of 'once a cafe churchmember, always a cafe church member', and of course our continuingFacebook group.

This year it's been a huge privilege to see cafe church membersgetting engaged (Hattie and Paul; Joe), married (Verity), training forministry (Frin; Ellie), being selected for training (Alex) and ordained(James). It's been wonderful and humbling to see God at work in thesepeople and in other members of our church community as theydiscover their future paths and vocations.

As ever it's been brilliant to be led in worship by different peoplethroughout the year. No week is the same, which keeps me wanting toturn up week after week, where I'd usually be getting a bit bored inother churches by now.

The diversity of the communityis also a key part of this forme. University staff, students,former students/staff andthose with little to do with theUniversity are all welcomedand encouraged to participateon an equal footing. And it's notuncommon to find people goingto a more 'traditional' church aswell as coming along to cafechurch. I can't wait to see whowalks through the door overthe coming year and to havethe privilege of seeing whatGod does in their lives.

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Breathe - meeting for worship

in the Quaker style

Rici – a post graduate student

For me, Breathe is an important part ofmy uni week. Not only does it give methe chance to step out of the hubub ofuni life for half an hour, it also gives mea chance to meet other interesting people who I would not other-wise. The simple lunch which is provided is usually brought to lifewith lively debate or broad discussion and this helps to get to knowother Friends, both regular and new.

I have attended Quaker meeting my whole life, although with varyingregularity. As someone who is often away on weekends and thereforenot able to attend on a Sunday, Breathe has given me the chance tomaintain regular Quaker worship attendance and to feel the spiritualnourishment I require. I know that it is common within the ReligiousSociety of Friends (Quakers) in Britain that people drop away fromQuakerism within their twenties and there has often been a dearth ofstudent aged Friends; I hope that for many this feeling of falling awaycould be overcome by a good lively university chaplaincy (which in-cludes Quaker Chaplains). With that said, Breathe certainly does notonly cater for twenty something year olds and the diversity of agesstrengthens the meeting.

I have a fond memory of one week of the past year when the staff ofthe chaplaincy were absent, and we were warned there would be noChaplains and no lunch provided. Unperterbed, and still having accessto the room, a small group of us still met that week and following themeeting joined together around a bag a cakes which one kind Friendhad brought to sustain our stomachs! That said, I enjoy it all the morewhen the chaplains are present! Robin and Chris have been everfriendly and welcoming and although it was sad to say goodbye toChris this year, wish him all the best for his new life down south andthank him for his time and energy. Of course not to forget thankingSharon and other Chaplaincy staff for their fantastic lunches (and theodd surprise from the allotment!)

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Mid-week Communion

John – a member of staff

Campus communion is a great timeof fellowship for both students andstaff. It is truly ecumenical and Ithink we show a real unity in faithand practical Christianity, as wellas respecting our varied churchtraditions and backgrounds. Thereare opportunities to participate,for example in bible readings, butno one is pressurized and theatmosphere is always friendly andsupportive. Lasting about 40minutes, the service can beattended by people with a busywork schedule and the lunch provided afterwards give time for peopleto talk and make new friends.

I have been attending for over ten years and enjoy the bible teachingin the short reflections given each week; the opportunities toparticipate in giving reflections and bible readings; meeting newgroups of students (and new staff) each year; the fellowship aroundthe Lord’s table and at lunch afterwards; hearing other people’s viewsand perspectives (from different church traditions). I feel that all thisenriches my Christian life immensely.

Mid-week communion gives support and friendship to everyone whocomes – and I believe it has a wider positive impact on university life.This is especially important for students beginning university andcoming into unfamiliar surroundings. It is a strong witness to theChristian faith (not promoting any particular denomination:ecumenism in action – not talking about it!). It provides a ‘spiritualoasis’ which contributes to spiritual growth and strength amidst ahectic university – and wider world.

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Just.Act.

Emma – an undergraduatestudentIt has been a really successfulyear for Just Act. Although weare a small group, we are veryactive and close-knit, and ithas been a real pleasure to bea member.

The main event we’ve run thisyear has been Christian Aid Week. We had to run it at a slightly differ-ent time to the national Christian Aid Week due to exams, but thismeant that lots of people got involved who otherwise wouldn’t haveheard of Just Act or the chaplaincy. We held a series of events overthe course of the week which raised awareness, money and resourcesfor the main campaigns which Christian Aid have supported this year.One night we held a ‘Stitch for Syria’ event in conjunction with LeedsFriends of Syria and the ‘Stitch and bitch’ society, which was verypopular. Beginners and more experienced knitters joined forces tomake squares which could then be made into blankets for Syrianrefugees. We also held a Christian Aid themed open mic night, whichwas popular with Folk soc members. A cake sale and stall in the unionraised a good sum of money, as well as engaging students with issuessurrounding war and conflict through games and quizzes. Along thistheme we held a film showing of Blood Diamond, which showed thehorrors of the illegal diamond trade in South Africa. The whole weekwas really positive, and attracted a lot of students to learn aboutChristian Aid and the work they do. I hope we will take ideas from thisto run an equally successful week next year.

As a group we have attended several conferences run by studentchristian organisations. In February we attended SCM’s nationalconference, which was inspiring and thought-provoking, with talksfrom Inderjit Boghal, CND and Christian Aid interns. Later on in themonth we also attended Christian Aid’s Roots conference inManchester, which gave practical guidance for running campaigns inuniversities and beyond. These were great opportunities to meet otherlike-minded students, and we discussed organising a collaboration

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between us and SCM Sheffield for bigger events, as we’re both smallgroups, which I hope is something we can pursue next year. We alsotook part in a training day based in Leeds run by ShareAction, anorganisation which provokes ethical changes in large corporations by

attending their AGM and asking questions as shareholders, and also the

Green Light campaign, who help people divest their pensions fromfossil fuels. It was a really encouraging day, which showed practicalways individuals can make a difference, and we ran several sessions onit at Just Act, including the Push Your Parents campaign, which asksstudents to let their parents know about green Light.

As well as events over the year, our weekly sessions have been reallyenjoyable. We studied the book ‘Kingdom Come’ by Malcolm Duncan,which looks at how the church can engage with the local communityto effectively build the kingdom and spread God’s love in our world. Itwas interesting to discuss how we feel about our churches, and whatwe could improve on in how we engage with people and issues outsidethe church, such as the environment. It also encouraged us to look atthe skills we possess as a group and how best to utilise those. As well

as this we had several sessionsbased on Christian Aid resourcessuch as talks from Poppy ourChristian Aid intern and the Eat.Act. Pray. sessions. These werereally useful in focusing ourprayers and bible studies ontoissues throughout the world, andlooking at how we can make adifference. The Eat. Act. Praysessions created a lovelyatmosphere through sharing foodand discussion.

Just Act have worked really hardthis year, and inspired andequipped students to take actionin the world. I hope that nextyear we can continue with thismomentum and spread the wordabout Just Act even further.

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International Student Club

The International Students’ Club hascontinued to meet every Wednesday ofthe year bar the Christmas week.

The number of students attending hasvaried from 25-100 and there have beenmore than a dozen volunteers from localchurches and chaplaincy to welcome,befriend and help them.

Agnes – an ISC VolunteerI have been volunteering in the ISC for 5 years. I started attending as astudent.

Former club leader, Seija told me about the opportunity to volunteer.The experience of visiting the club as a student before is helping menow to put myself in the shoes of the students.

Hajnalka – an ISC VolunteerI have been volunteering in the ISC for 1 year. I found out about theclub through Seija as well. I met her in the Lutheran Church.

Every Wednesday I meet with other volunteers before the Club startsto prepare for the evening, we can see how important the club is tothe students that attend.

Almost every week we have new students who may need informationabout the life in the UK, Leeds or even about the two Universities wesupport. They are happy that they have found a new friendlyenvironment.

The club is a nice way to spend time not only for the students but alsofor us volunteers. We feel that we are helping others and that we areneeded. We can meet new people and get experience of looking afterpeople coming from different cultures and backgrounds. We are gladthat we can share a bit of our culture during the presentation time.For instance, we can introduce our traditional dishes or sing folkloresongs.

All in all, we always leave the club with the positive feeling that wedid something good on that day.

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The Culture Shock ComedyDrama was performed on severaloccasions to for more than 1200new international students in totalin August, September and Januarywith Anna playing the central roleof the new international student.The good co-operation with theInternational Student Offices wasinvaluable in assisting the newstudents in the process of settling down in Leeds and at theUniversities.

Among the other ISC associated activities, a minibus trip wasorganised to York in March for sightseeing and including a visit toSeija’s house. Such visits can be the only times international studentswill see a British home so they are very much appreciated.

The International Gospel Concert in late October gathered 80 peoplewho enjoyed international music and life stories from four continents.

The ISC English teaching has continued and the sessions take place ina small group just before the Club meeting. These are taught byGeoffrey Elliot.

After the Club an optional Bible discussion group takes place to ex-plore Christianity which has been led this year by Ryan Lindsey. In theautumn term we are re-ran J .John’s series ‘How relevant are the 10commandments for a modern person’.

We are working to make the Club more easily ac-cessible for British students. For example the‘Cooking and Friendship events‘ organised in co-operation with Leeds University Catering Servicehave been advertised by the ISO for Global CafeCommunity students. We have also had slightlymore British students coming along to the Clubevenings this year.

We wish to express a big thank you to our supporting churches andorganisations. With your committed help the work among internationalstudents goes on smoothly day by day, helping our students as theycome to our events or we meet them on campus.

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Chinese Church Activities

Over the year attendance at Wednesday night bible study has variedgreatly. It is a joy to see those who come able to share theexperiences which they encounter in their work and studies within theuniversities, as well as seeing post graduate students able torelax and find a place to relate with one another.

At the Mandarin speaking group we study the bible and also holdseminars for post graduate students. These have covered subjectsincluding ‘How to undertake research work’ in Mandarin. Weappreciated the help of academic staff who help us with thesesessions.

We continue to welcome new students to our activities especially toseasonal events including the Chinese mid-autumn festival as well asChristmas, Chinese New Year and Easter celebrations. We also makeuse of the good weather, and organise outings in local parks when theweather permits! The students who attend these activities are mainlyfrom China. We also welcome a number of staff members from theuniversities. The average number for Bible study in this group is about8-10, but during new term welcome activities it increases to 40.

For the Friday bible study groups, there has been a slight increase ofCantonese speaking under-graduate and post-graduate students overthe year. Together with the English speaking students group, theaverage number on a Friday is about 30 in term time. The studentscome from S.E. Asian countries including Malaysia, Singapore and HongKong. During new term welcome activities it increases to 50.

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Mind, Body and Spirit

Are you interested in the mind,body connection?

A great way to start the week.Feel more energised andfocused by setting aside someintentional relaxation space foryourself.

Sessions can help you becomemore aware of your posture,manage your emotions andincrease energy levels.

Shift from ‘doing’ to ‘being’mode for an hour using somesimple exercises, such as medi-tation and the body scan.

Deborah – a member of staff

It is great to have the opportunity to take some time out during theworking day and have some space to pause and relax. I like thecombination of the gentle physical exercise and the mindfulness thatthese sessions provide. I return back to my office feeling relaxed andrefreshed. It is a very gentle class and the focus is on the mindfulnessas opposed to the physical side.

I feel lucky to have this available to me and it doesn’t cost a penny. Itis a great way to start my week.

I would recommend it to anyone whether they do physical exercise ornot. It is suitable for everyone.

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Finance reportThe following charts give an indication of our income streams andareas of expenditure, to the end of August 2014.Our thanks go to all those institutions, bodies and individuals whosupport our work financially.

Expenditure

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Finance reportIncome

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The Universities Chaplaincy is based at four sites:

Emmanuel Centre at the entrance to the University of Leeds;Priestley Hall, Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus;The Rosebowl, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus;5 St Mark’s Avenue, near the University of Leeds (Catholic Chaplaincy).

For more information on the work of the Chaplaincy:www.unichaplaincy.org.uke: chaplaincy@leeds.ac.uke: chaplaincy@leedsbeckett.ac.ukt: 0113 343 5071Find us on Facebook: Universities Chaplaincy in Leeds