Oral Answers to Questions

James Sunderland Excerpts

Thursday 10th September 2020 Commons Chamber

The hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—

[James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)]

What steps the Church of England is taking to support mental health during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Andrew Selous)]

This is a timely question from my hon. Friend, on World Suicide Prevention Day. The Church’s healthcare chaplains work in both acute and community mental health services. The diocese of Manchester provides mental health wellbeing youth workers, to provide mental health first aid, and the parish of Goudhurst in Kilndown in Kent provides subsidised mental health counselling in 13 schools.

[James Sunderland]

Given the current crisis and the inability of young people to meet, what impact is covid-19 having on the young persons working for the Church in that good work?

[Andrew Selous]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. His own diocese, the diocese of Oxford, reports that connection with young people has been greatly reduced throughout lockdown. With the new measures to suppress the virus coming in on Monday, churches can hold services tailored to young people, as many already do, and church youth groups can continue to meet in multiple groups of six or fewer. I hope that churches will consider those options to increase the number of young people involved with the life of the Church.