'Refreshed and Resourced'- Caraway team put on a great day!
- debbiethrower0
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Southampton's Refresh and Resource Day was a great success on Monday, May 19. Around 90 people took part in the event at Highfield Church on the topic of 'Resilient Compassion'. It was a bittersweet occasion, though, as it was time to say farewell to long-time Anna Chaplaincy network member, the Revd Canon Dr Erica Roberts, as she retires from her ministry in the port city where she has pioneered her role as City Chaplain for Older People.
Attendees had come from Wales, the Isle of Wight and many other southern counties to take part in the day hosted by the charity Caraway. Erica founded Caraway to provide Dementia Services for Older People locally. Caraway's Chaplains - Anna Chaplaincy-trained - are there to listen and help people work their way through some of the changes, challenges and transitions we all face in our later years.
The day began with a warm welcome and worship led by Erica, with writer and retreat-leader Ann Lewin reading some of her own poems from her book, Watching for the Kingfisher (Canterbury Press 2009). Ann reflected on the poignancy of caring for her own mother who had lived with dementia.
Debbie Thrower gave the keynote address. Her subject: 'Taking care of oneself, as well as others, in the shared vocation to grow old.' She drew on personal insights as well as writers as varied as Ronald Blythe, Michael Mayne, James Hollis, Richard Rohr and Pope Francis.
There were conversations between the new Chair of Caraway Trustees' Dr Esther Clift and Chaplain for Dementia Dave Hendra on 'Bringing hope to carers', as well as 'Building resilience with Emotional Logic' from Dr Ros Simpson and Dr Marian Langsford.
In the afternoon, newest Caraway Chaplain for Dementia, Karen Kingston, joined the duo for a more detailed workshop on Caraway's new 'Course for Carers'. Other workshops to choose from ranged from 'Music Therapy' to another involving Hand massage etc. as part of 'Looking after yourself and others.'
Midway through the day there was a visit from the Bishop of Southampton, the Right Revd Rhiannon King, who is six months into her new role. She listened carefully and spoke of how impressed she was with the combined expertise and wisdom of those present. 'I can feel the love in this room!,' she said. And she praised the event for being 'Spiritual, Practical and Purposeful.'
The Anna Chaplaincy team from BRF manned a stall with useful resources for attendees to browse and Ministry Lead Debbie Ducille updated everyone on current progress; notably the continuing growth in numbers coming forward to become Anna Chaplains. The next commissioning will be in Northern Ireland. We now count more than 440 people in the national network.
Debbie added that as, inevitably, some Anna Chaplains are themselves taking retirement now, it means that well over 500 people have actually been part of Anna Chaplaincy since its inception. Debbie paid warm tribute to Erica and all she has achieved for older people - 'there will be tears' she warned, and wished her the very best for her retirement. Erica is making plans to move with her husband Mark to the West Country.
Prayers from colleagues and friends were said over Erica in the closing minutes of the conference. Then, after posing for photos... everyone celebrated her success and toasted the future with 'bubbles' (and lots of ice cream, kindly donated by Jude's Ice Cream).
'It was a wonderful day, yes, with a few tears... but also plenty of smiles and food for thought as we made our way home. Erica has built an amazing team - and such a hub for Anna Chaplains - and we have every reason to look forward with optimism!'
Debbie Thrower
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