While still finding her feet in her role as Gordon Community Centre Chaplain, Skye Coates is approaching the challenge with faith and patience.
Drawn to the position for its vision to connect community work with community need, and the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with community members, Skye has begun laying the groundwork for genuine engagement with both participants and volunteers.
“Coming into chaplaincy I thought I would have more deep conversations with people, and that would be primarily what I did”, explained Skye. “However, I’ve realised that is a small part of what I do so far and the majority of it is being a welcoming person, integrating into what happens here, and building up trust and relationships.”
Run in partnership between the Lanyon Valley Anglican Church and Anglicare, the Gordon Community Centre provides emergency food relief to local individuals and families, offers a variety of programs including playgroup, craft and fitness sessions and free community lunches. It is also co-located with social enterprise café, Little Luxton.
Working within this type of community hub model was appealing for Skye. “I liked the idea of the church being partnered with Anglicare, and of doing community work where people who aren’t connected with the church are—in a space where they have opportunities to meet with Christian people”, she said. “I think it is a tangible way for the church to be involved in the community.”
In her previous role as Youth and Children’s Worker at Saint Mary’s in the Valley, Skye was focused mainly on developing programs for children, and her chaplaincy-style interactions were based around families and other women in the church. While her new position is more adult-focused, the centre’s playgroup sessions are understandably a highlight for her. “I’ve enjoyed being part of playgroup and seeing that develop as people become more trusting of my presence there”, she said.
Another highlight for Skye has been expanding the centre’s Friday Coffee & Chat sessions. “Given that we have a nice community lunch here once a month, I thought it would be good to have more regular things on a Friday that people can link in with”, she explained, “and the idea of sharing a skill or a passion with one another brings a deeper sense of connection than a surface chat. It is an opportunity for different people to be drawn in who are not already involved or to meet more regularly for those who are”. This is something that Skye and the team hope to develop further in the year ahead.
Along with the centre’s many volunteers, Skye works closely with Rose Flintoff, the Centre Coordinator and Rev’d Jonathon Holt. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the volunteers. I’ve been really impressed by them, and I’ve also enjoyed working with Rose and Jonathon and having a team environment,” she said.
While Skye still looks forward to engaging in more meaningful and inspiring conversations, she values the connections she has already made, and has faith that she is in this role for a reason. “I guess I am just trusting that God will use this opportunity to make an impact in the community and share His good news with others”, she said. “I think I just have to be patient with that and follow His leading and be okay with things not being straightforward and not being obvious as to what each day will hold.”
