Chaplaincy

Hi, I’m Vanessa and I have been the Chaplain here at Dyson Perrins C of E Academy since November 2022. For me it is important that collective worship within the school continues to grow as an integral part of daily school life, establishing itself as the beating heart of the school. Alongside special services throughout the year such as Christmas and Easter, there are times of daily Collective Worship and reflection with individual year groups and forms throughout the week. In addition there is a variety of after school clubs which will look at projects involving courageous advocacy, living life in all its fulness and opportunities to explore faith.

As well as being used for services, the Chapel is also open at lunchtimes for the students to access and is an inclusive safe space for them to come and to be themselves. It is a place where they can be with friends or take time to reflect away from the busyness and noise, and there are opportunities to explore prayer should students wish to. The chapel is open to all students of any faith or none, and all are welcome. 

As well as my Chaplaincy role, I also work within the Parish of Malvern Link with Cowleigh and in the primary schools of St. Matthias and Northleigh, as part of the Parish team delivering assemblies and after school clubs. Working as part of the Parish team enables the building and establishing of strong links between the school and the wider community including Malvern Churches Together.

Prior to my role here at Dyson Perrins, I have spent the last 20 years working with children, young people and families is many different roles. I have also trained and worked as a counsellor for 15 years which also involved working with young people as well as adults across a variety of settings including Mind.