14th March 2012

Visit to HMP Bure, Norfolk

Thank you to Aileen Fox, Free Church Chaplain at HMP The Bure for her invitation to visit their Chaplaincy. It was great to meet up with Anne Hedges, co-ordinating Chaplain, and the Governing Governor, Sue Doolan to talk openly about the challenges and opportunities facing Chaplaincy. The Chaplaincy at Bure was a refreshingly cheerful place, the relationships amongst the team being clearly supportive. Thank you to Nacer, the Muslim Chaplain, for sharing his lunch with me; an act of generosity that seemed entirely natural within the context of the Bure’s Chaplaincy. The programme offered by the Multi-Faith team was full and varied, utilising both the core day and association periods. The co-operation required with the prison regime, and amongst varied faith practitioners which enables this to happen presents a model that we could all learn from. In my short visit it seemed to me that The Bure has a well staffed (although they are desperately short of volunteers), effective and valued Chaplaincy that serves the establishment well. A good example of Multi-Faith working that is both distinctive and effective. (Author: Bob Wilson)

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