Through the generous support of several Trusts and Foundations, the Cathedral is revitalising its education services through the newly established Creative Learning and Discovery team. Our aim is to provide enriching educational experiences that will inspire children, families, and schools. We hope that this will foster a deeper connection with the Cathedral and its history, and help to show that the Cathedral is a place for everyone.
Rosie Bradberry, our newly appointed 'Creative Learning Officer', is providing opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. Working alongside teachers, Rosie is creating programmes that add depth to the teaching of Religious Education, History, Art and Citizenship. We want to ensure that these programmes add real value to curriculum teaching, improving school leaver outcomes, facilitating social development, and building confidence.
Rosie and her team are placing an emphasis on engaging with schools with higher levels of deprivation, as well as low-income families. We want to provide a safe space for this cohort, where they can receive support, leaving with a sense of belonging.
Looking ahead, we are expanding our outreach to work with organisations such as MIND and Family Support Work to ensure that more children and young people can access the benefits of Cathedral-based learning and wellbeing support. We are also developing new digital resources and online programmes to support schools that may not be able to visit in person.
Since her appointment, Rosie has engaged with over twenty-six schools, helping to re-establish the Cathedral as a centre for learning. We have welcomed hundreds of children and families through our workshops, including the Mars Makers weekend, which saw over sixty children and fifty-two adults take part in creative activities and storytelling sessions. We have also seen an increase of eighty percent for children attending our 'Children, Families and Caregivers Service'. All demonstrate that our well-loved building is a treasure trove of history and art and the feedback we have received thus far shows that it is perfectly placed to offer experiential learning and worship opportunities for children and young people across the diocese.
Pre-pandemic, our wonderful staff and volunteers were supporting fifty-two schools, and engaging with over 10,000 individuals annually. Severely hampered by the devastating and unforeseen effects of the pandemic, the funding we have received, we hope, will enhance and possibly even surpass our education and ministry offering for young people and their families.
This project was shaped by an extensive consultation involving local schools, youth workers, parish priests, Diocesan staff, the Board of Education, and other Cathedrals, as well as our own staff, volunteers, and congregation. We thank everyone that was involved in helping us develop these initiatives.
The responses of people of all ages from the youngest, through to the teens and adults, demonstrate that they have been greatly moved by the purposeful and focused time they have spent in this sacred space. The quality and thoughtfulness of the questions, the moving responses, to the things seen and experienced is something I will never forget.
Jenny Dennett, Head Education Volunteer, reflecting on the impact of our education initiatives
A special thanks to Chichester Cathedral Friends, Benefact Trust, The Joseph Rank Trust, Westhill Endowment, Saint John's Trust, The Inlight Trust, and Chichester Deanery, without whose vital funding, none of this would have been possible.
All involved with this fundraising project are keen to continue to bring the excitement, vibrancy and energy of children and young people back to this living building. We will be able to offer potentially transformative experiences for the community’s youth. This generation has faced unprecedented challenges. It is therefore essential we create opportunities for our youth to lift their gaze from their devices and immerse themselves in the wonders of this sacred space. We believe that children and young people are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today. By funding these two roles, generous donors are helping to make this belief a lived reality.
If you'd like to support this important work, please consider making a donation or even volunteering. To find out more please contact Jake Parke. You can email Jake via: jake.parke@chichestercathedral.org.uk, or call via: 01243 812991
Together, the two roles will provide rich encounters for children, families and young people which are transformational. They will be instrumental in building relationships and engaging young people in creative activities and inspiring conversation. All these joyful elements are part of the journey of faith.
Sarah Ricketts, Consultation Lead
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