There are times when everyone just needs a chat. That chat is more valuable if it is with likeminded people or others with shared experience. I used to go to Haileybury, and my father was the school chaplain, so I had all that to deal with as well as an unhealthy ability to annoy teachers at 100 paces.
Some people are made for public school, and some are not! This pastoral care project is run and used by Old Haileyburians, and we all will have stories and memories that can be shared. What is the value in this? Building a community of people who get used to sharing the past and then that same group can expand to share hopes, plans and even dreams with likeminded supportive people.
The other side of this coin is that should you have a problem that you want help with and feel comfortable to share maybe a communal mind can really help anyone who feels they cannot cope or do not know where to go for information or front facing help.
I for one relish the chance to talk to ex pupils of a school that was also my home for many years and build some long-lasting bonds as well as being in the hard-earned position to have partners which, through my charity Coffee and Coping that really can get things done for you as part of this community.
It is not all about problems and solutions it is all about talking and remembering times that all of us can relate to both good and bad. Whatever Haileybury was for you, the link to this establishment is enough to construct meaningful online conversations and a chance to relive the past or talk about its impact on your lives after entering the world.
Please send your email addresses to OH@coffeeandcoping.org and I’ll send you the invite to the first of these monthly Teams meetings which will be held at 3pm Saturday 21st of December.
I look forward to reliving and relating to our pasts as well as helping with our futures.
Edmund (Jim) Aitken-Ballard CEO Coffee and Coping Charity OH@coffeeandcoping.org.
Haileybury outreach Teams meeting – A message from OH Edmund (Jim) Aitken-Ballard (Th 87)
