Items filtered by date: August 2025
The Diocese of Derby has created a template policy for the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders which may be downloaded and completed by Benefices and Parishes. It can be downloaded here.
Head out into Derby on a Friday or Saturday night and you’re more than likely to run into a group of volunteers looking out for revellers in need.
They are Derby’s Street Pastors - trained volunteers from a variety of local churches who provide a visible, reassuring presence for everyone in the city centre. They work in teams of three or four and are out and about, prayerfully patrolling, from 10pm – 4am.
Street Pastors has been operating in Derby since 2009 and the volunteers have become a well-respected and greatly appreciated part of Derby's nightlife.
They work together with the police, door staff and Derby CCTV, responding to calls to offer non-judgmental, understanding support through listening, assisting and, where necessary, putting their first-aid training into action.
And on other occasions, the help they give can be as straight forward as making sure someone has water to drink and a way of getting home.
One such volunteer is Steve Johnson.
As someone who did his fair share of over-induging in his youth, Steve said: “Being a Street Pastor is insane and yet unbelievably rewarding - the nervous anticipation of wondering what you will encounter during the night really gets the adrenaline going.
“Committing to putting my faith into action, it is a privilege taking God’s love and grace into our city streets, meeting and talking to people their own context.”
Now, the organisation is looking to recruit some new faces to ensure it can continue to provide the level of service needed in the city.
Steve’s take on being a volunteer is that when a great night out turns into a time of distress and vulnerability, Street Pastors make sure those who have perhaps allowed themselves one too many, get home to their families safe and well.
He said: “To be a Street Pastor, I think you have to love your city, the people, the buildings and the culture.
“In my youth, we never had these kinds of organisations around, but there is a new generation who enjoy our night-time economy that only know Street Pastors, and the warmth and love towards us is awesome.
“Together with lollies, bottles of water, flip flops and spikies we go out into town having put on the full armour of God, offering up our prayers for our fantastic city.”
If you are interested in learning more about being a Street Pastor, pop along to the open night being held at Derby City Church, Curzon Street, Derby on Monday, 5 February 2024 at 7pm, or contact them at streetpastors@derbycitymission.org.uk.
Derby’s Street Pastors operates as a franchise of the national Street Pastor scheme that is run by the Ascension Trust under the management of Derby City Mission.
For details of Street Pastor teams at other locations across the Diocese of Derby, visit the Street Pastors website.
Easing out of the pandemic
A number of resources that might help you and your congregations
>> Compassion Fatigue – Recognise and Recover [PDF]
CPAS ‘Emerging from Pandemic’ resources
Lament: a few suggestions encouraging us personally and collectively to take the need for lament seriously as a healthy response to all that we are still going through.
St. Luke’s Virtual Wellbeing Papers
The St. Luke’s papers were issued on a regular basis through the first lockdown in 2020. In one sense they therefore relate closely to that time, but they are still relevant, containing much wisdom, advice and insight. Although written for September 2020 the paper entitled ‘Easing out of Lockdown’ is still current in its advice.
They are helpful at a personal level, but could also be used in a range of other settings.
Covid 19 crisis fatigue and you [PDF]
Making a start on long-term recovery from a crisis [PDF]
Prayer, wellbeing and our rootedness in God [PDF]
Response to stress during Covid-19 [PDF]
Self-care at a time of loss [PDF]
Thoughts from a trauma-informed perspective [PDF]
Meditation on lament [PDF]
Here be dragons [PDF]
Understanding the body [PDF]
Use of the scriptures [PDF]
Creating a safe space (PDF)
Easing out of lockdown (PDF)
Liminality in a time of Covid (PDF)
Ministering to Uncertainity (PDF)
Clergy Support Trust
Clergy Support Trust offers grants, including wellbeing grants, financial support grants, and health grants.
>> More information on the Clergy Support Trust
St Luke’s
As of the 1 June 2022, St Luke’s has recently changed its focus with resources on improving the mental health and wellbeing of clergy and their families.
This marks a significant shift in its remit and focus.
As a diocese, we have recently offered ‘Trauma informed ministry’ training and have offered resilience training in the past (both bought in from St Luke’s).
Alongside this, St Luke’s also offers one-to-one support.
>> More information on St Luke's
Further sources of support
The following CofE document offers information and contact details for a range of organisations offering support and advice across a range of wellbeing scenarios and situations.
>> Living Ministry: Sources of support for Clergy and Ordinands
The Clergy Household Grant (formerly known as the Clergy Spouse Grant) is one-off amount of £90 available each year, either to pay for or to subsidise a retreat, or a course which offers the same relaxation and respite element as a retreat.
Clergy simply need to be in touch, preferably before the event, and provide some supporting paperwork. Please contact office@bishopofderby.org.
Applications for Clergy Retreat Grant
The Ordained Ministries Development Officer, the Revd Dwayne Engh, has responsibility for authorising applications for Clergy Retreat grants.
- Download the Clergy Retreat Grant Information here [PDF].
- Download the Clergy Retreat Grant application form here [Word].
Application forms should be sent directly to Marietta Forman at Derby Church House or by email to marietta.forman@derby.anglican.org.
If you have any queries, do please get in touch with Marietta on 01332 388673.
Living Ministry suggests six principles to help you THRIVE in ministry [PDF] and while this was written with specific reference to the pandemic, it is based around excellent principles for ministry in any situation and well worth a look.
Spirituality is probably one of the most overworked and misunderstood words in present day religious vocabulary.
In the context of our life and mission in the Diocese of Derby, we are particularly concerned with Christian spirituality which is deeply embedded in the life and history of the Church.
In these days many people are taking their own journey into God far more seriously.
There is a real thirst within the Church as well as in the world for the things of God.
To try to address this, the Diocese of Derby’s Christian Spirituality Group tries to provide people who can accompany others on this journey as listeners and spiritual directors.
It also provides courses, quiet days and retreats.
Details of all these things will appear from time to time on this website and in other places.
For more information, please visit the Diocese of Derby Spirituality Group’s website page.
Pastoral supervision provides a safe and confidential space to be supervised or to ‘look over’ pastoral ministry with another person who is experienced and trained in this specialised service.
Along with spiritual direction and counselling, this is another valuable resource in support of your ministry.
Download more information on the pastoral supervision service [PDF]
Fully Funded Mental Health First Aid Training for Clergy - November 2025
Following the great feedback we received from previous events, the clergy wellbeing advisory group have organised another fully funded Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training event which is free for clergy to attend. This will take place on the following dates:
Wednesday 26th November & Thursday 27th November 2025 – Online Event.
The event will run from 9am – 5pm, and delegates will need to attend on both days.
This two-day training event is fully funded by the Clergy Support Trust and accredited by Mental Health First Aid England. It seeks to equip participants with a practical framework for supporting those experiencing mental health concerns. Grounded in research, and developed with clinical practitioners, MHFA is designed to enhance participants' knowledge and confidence in how best to help others, whilst also looking after their own wellbeing. Within a church context, this programme can help participants reflect afresh on their theology of suffering, healing, and recovery.
All participants will receive a 100-page printed workbook, and access to digital resources for up to three years post-training, including the MHFA App which provides 24/7 digital support.
Places for this event is limited. If you would like to attend, please book your place as soon as possible using the link below:
Mental Health First Aid Training Booking Form
If you ave any questions at all, please contact Julie Fowler - julie.fowler@derby.anglican.org or 01332 278172.
Sheldon Hub
The Sheldon Hub is a safe place for people in ministry to meet, share and support each other. It is secure and free to use. It offers a directory of resources as well as an independent community.
To access the Sheldon Hub go to sheldonhub.org or click HERE.
‘How Clergy Thrive’
‘How Clergy Thrive’ is an excellent resource which looks at ways clergy can look after their wellbeing, including vocationally specific research, guidance, and help.
You can download a copy of this book and accompanying worksheets here: Living Ministry Resources | The Church of England
Wellbeing snapshot: The Wellbeing Map
The Living Ministry Wellbeing Map is a useful tool that you could use on your own or with others, maybe every six months or so.
It might re-assure, it might indicate a need for further support or input and help you target specific things.
Take some ‘Time out’
Please feel free to use any of these resources if you find yourself in need of a quiet space and something to help you reflect.
Sometimes the last thing we feel we can do is take ‘Time Out’. However, it is often one of the most helpful things to do. We suggest the following to make it more likely to happen:
- Decide when your ‘Time Out’ will be and how long it will last.
- Mark that time and space in your diary so that it stands along-side meetings and other commitments as equally important allocated time.
- Resist the temptation to move it, shorten it, delete it all together as other demands are made on you and your time.
