The need for likeminded support
David Savage was Humanists UK’s first Head of Pastoral Support and was the Chair of the Non-Religious Pastoral Care Network from 2016-2018. In 2014, he successfully completed a two-year training course in healthcare ‘chaplaincy’ at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, where he continues to provide non-religious pastoral care to patients and staff. He pioneered the development and provision of non-religious pastoral care in UK hospitals. He is the author of Non-Religious Pastoral Care: A Practical Guide.
Lindsay van Dijk is the head of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust’s Chaplaincy and Pastoral Support Team, the first non-religious person to manage a Chaplaincy and Pastoral Support team in the National Health Service. She obtained a BA and MA in humanist pastoral care at the University of Humanistic Studies (Netherlands) and is currently studying for a PhD in the spiritual and pastoral needs of children in hospital.
Research carried out by YouGov (2017) showed 69% of people (73% of non-religious people) think non-religious pastoral carers should be provided alongside religious chaplains in institutions like hospitals, prisons, and universities.
Question: How important is it to be able to talk to somebody who shares your worldview in times of need?
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