Post date: 21-Nov-2009 16:46:10
Quite simply, without Simon and the chaplaincy I wouldn't be at university. A couple of weeks after I started university I experienced a very difficult relationship breakup, and ran back to my parents home in a panic. I honestly think I would have stayed there if it hadn't been for Simon, who spoke to me on the phone and persuaded me to come back. He agreed to meet me when I arrived back in Southampton, and my parents knew that they were dropping me off to someone who would look after me. Simon then took me back to my halls and did my washing up for me, and then took me out to a house where lots of people involved in chaplaincy lived (the house I am now living in) where Chaplaincy members made me feel very welcome.
Both Simon, Catherine (Catholic Chaplain) and Peter (ex-Free Church Chaplain) have been there for me in my hour of need many times during the last two years. The chaplaincy has always been open as a safe place for me to come to, and it has been recognised as such by people from the University Wellbeing Services who have been supporting me.
It is not much of an exaggeration to say that without the help and support of the chaplaincy neither my fiancee or I would be alive. We have both been in very difficult situations over the last few years, and have contacted the chaplains during crisis periods when we have been at risk of suicide. The fact that they were there to look after our needs, and that the whole chaplaincy community was there, really helped us both.
The chaplaincy has reached out to a huge number of people on the University of Southampton campus, and much of this work has been done by Simon. I am continually amazed by the number of people who come to speak to him who don't normally hang out in chaplaincy and just seem to know who Simon is and how to find him when they need him.
Overall, the chaplaincy has helped me a huge amount, and I hope that it will still be there to help future generations of students like me.