Watford Town Centre Chaplaincy is a Christian charity working to benefit everyone (of all faiths and no faith) who lives, works, shops or socialises in Watford town centre by providing volunteers day and night out and about in Watford town centre supporting people in practical and pastoral ways. We signpost people in need to sources of specialist support, and work in partnership with Watford BID, local councils and Police who have commended our efforts as beneficial in promoting crime reduction and community safety. Workplace Chaplaincy UK asserts that workplace chaplaincy reduces absenteeism and stress, and improves staff satisfaction, retention and productivity. Churches and Industry Group Birmingham recently described workplace chaplaincy as 'preventative well-being effort ... cost effective and desperately needed ... authentic support and alliance.'
We have two core activities. We provide volunteer Chaplains to local workplaces who pop in about once a week to visit people at work to see how they are and offer a listening ear so they can share their struggles, stresses, and reasons for celebration. We provide volunteer Street Angels out and about overnight at the weekend around the clubs and late-opening bars in town offering practical and pastoral support e.g. giving out slippers, water, foil blankets, hair-bands, sick bags and wet wipes; helping people find friends and taxis to get home safely; listening to the distressed and lonely; encouraging everyone to have an enjoyable night out. We forge partnerships with other local charities, churches, statutory and voluntary agencies, to provide the best possible support and service to everyone in Watford town centre.