LSHTM Chaplaincy Welcome Week Presentation

Frieze outside the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street by  P.R.Morley Horder

It is a great privilege to serve as Honorary Chaplain to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I work as part of the Student Support Services Team and at the start of each year we offer welcome presentations and hold a ‘marketplace’ (a post-graduate version of a freshers fair) for new students, many of whom are studying one year Masters Degrees, often travelling from overseas, leaving behind families and friends and having never visited London before.

Here is an approximation of my ‘welcome’ speech which I have given over various presentations to different grounds of students today:

It is glorious to be here! There is something so inspiring about being surrounded by people who care about helping others and making the world a healthier place - so thank you!

My name is Phillip Dawson and I am one of your Chaplains. Along with the rest of my colleagues in Student Support Services we are here to help you to flourish. To help each and every one of you to be the person you are meant to be. Our special focus as Chaplains is supporting a key and often overlooked area of life – your spiritual wellbeing.

I am a Christian – a Church of England Priest - but as your Chaplain I am here for students and staff of all faiths and none, available to meet one to one, face to face, or chat by phone. I am part of a network of Interfaith Chaplains across the University of London and can signpost you to one of them if you prefer.

As Honorary Chaplains we are not members of staff at LSHTM – we have parish churches nearby, which means we live and work in this area. We love being part of the LSHTM community – but we are rooted in the communities outside. And those connections can be very helpful.

Some students come to LSHTM having been part of a strong faith community elsewhere and want our help to find a similar one nearby. 

Some want to spend the next three, six or twelve months here exploring different approaches to prayer and worship. 

Others have had really difficult experiences with faith and spirituality and after moving to study here find that the change of scene opens up questions they want to explore with someone.

Some people just want some intel on the local area. I’ve just been asked where the best place is to go late night dancing! We are happy to field enquiries about any or all of the above and more!

We are available when you need us. Contact us by phone or email or whatsapp for an appointment. We offer a listening, non-judgemental ear at times of stress, of crisis of trauma and bereavement.

‘Time for Tea’ is our weekly drop in at the Chaplaincy Office over on Torrington Square, near SOAS. Come and find us there on Wednesdays from 3-4pm.

We are around in the Student Hub at our regular Wellbeing Drop-In Sessions with the rest of the Student Support Services team. And we hold events each term, this term our Christmas Carol Service returns.

Some highlights in the month ahead include a Saturday morning walk around Hampstead on 12th October with fine views across London from Parliament Hill Fields. And on Friday 16th October at 4.30pm a special walk around this area,highlighting some of the fascinating innovations in public health and medicalscience that were made here. 

Please do sign up to join our mailing list to find out more about our events and activities. Come and find me at the marketplace on Wednesday and have a chat. Do go across to the SOAS Freshers Fair on Friday and sign up to the many student run faith societies there.

Three things before I go:

Often people who care passionately about helping others can find it hard to accept help themselves. We are all here to help you flourish – please use our services.

Some people might see me several times, others never. No matter how regularly you engage with the Chaplaincy team, please know that you are always on our hearts.

Finally - and most importantly - remember that each and every one of you is loved.

Enjoy your time at LSHTM!