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RETAIL CHAPLAINS NETWORK 2007
The Retail Chaplains Network held the first of its two annual meetings this year in Manchester on Wednesday 16 May. It was attended by over 30 chaplains, both full and part-time. Elisabeth Spence and Peter Donald represented SCIM.
The first session began with an interesting presentation by Jeff Johnson about his work as manager of a large House of Fraser store (formerly known as Kendall Milne) in Deansgate, Manchester.
He concentrated in his talk on his dealings with staff and customers. Apparently employee retention in retail is a huge problem. 50% of staff leave his employment annually, and this is the national average, mainly for better paid jobs or employment where they are not expected to constantly work unsociable hours.
He admitted that he and his managers would like to have more time with staff on a one-to-one basis, but it just is not possible. (Enter the store chaplain….. he doesn’t have one at present.)
A lively question and answer session followed, and threw up some topics for discussion later in the day.
Rev Bob Davies (Oldham) led a short time of worship before a brief lunch break gave delegates an opportunity to do some ‘networking.’
In the afternoon session the new Retail Chaplains Website www.retailchaplains.org.uk was announced, and its potential usefulness to those involved in this work discussed. A service known as ‘I Chaplaincy’ has also been operating for about six months, receiving an average of 16 contacts per month from staff who wish to remain anonymous, but who want advice and support in their situations. This service will be a useful ‘add-on’ for chaplains to promote in their own business circles.
Discussion in groups filled the rest of the programme and subjects considered included :
1 ) Exploitation of staff with regard to traditional ‘national holidays’, particularly Boxing Day. – and what can be done. (This will be continued on the new website and it is hoped to link up with other national groups that share our concern)
2 ) The shopaholic, retail-therapy, consumer-mad society – and how can it be changed.
3 ) Methods of funding the chaplaincies.
4 ) The use of volunteers in retail chaplaincy and issues such as insurance and covering their expenses.
5 ) The possibility of introducing a day (initially even once in a year) that could be called ‘Green Sabbath’ when shops will close, and people would be encouraged to keep their cars off the road and spend more time with their families.
A brief summary of the groups’ conclusions was given and then votes of thanks extended to those who had worked hard to bring the day about.
The next meeting will be held in Birmingham on 14th November.