Cascade

"If we can do something that enhances the wellbeing of frontline church and school leaders, who give so much of themselves to others, that will automatically cascade out into the communities that they are trying to serve.”

Bishop Adrian Newman, Chair of the St Benedict's Centre

Cascade is a new partnership between the St Benedict’s Centre based at Malling Abbey and the Diocese of Rochester, designed to help the flourishing and wellbeing of leaders in churches (lay and ordained) and schools across the area of the diocese.

Through a programme of initiatives and interventions, Cascade will support those on the front line of leadership with their physical, relational, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
 

The range of roles that will be able to access the scheme include:

• Clergy (stipendiary, self-supporting, and PTO)
• Clergy spouses
• Lay leaders (all authorised or licensed lay ministers)
• Children, Youth and family workers
• Churchwardens
• School Headteachers
• Chaplains
• Diocesan and cathedral lay staff. 

Watch this short film that explains more about Cascade.

Developing the programme

Cascade is key piece of work with the diocese's Called Together vision, as we seek to grow missional leaders, missional churches and missional disciples.

No one can pour from an empty vessel. Supporting people to attend to their own wellbeing first will mean they will be more able to flourish in their work and ministry with others.
 

"There is a point in John's gospel where Jesus says that he has come to ‘bring life in all its fullness’, and yet we know that for many church leaders and for the leaders in our schools, it can feel like life is being lived in half its fullness right now.

“We envisage that the impact of this project will be like a dimmer light gradually coming on in peoples’ lives, so that as we start to address some of the issues that are most important to them, we'll find that it will have a real knock-on effect in their households, in their relationships within their churches, and in their communities.

Bishop Simon Burton-Jones, Bishop of Tonbridge and Chair of the Cascade Steering Group

Initially funded for five years, during the first year (2025), a consultation process will be undertaken to ensure that the programme is co-designed alongside those who will be using it.

The consultation process will consist of an online survey and listening events. This will then inform a pilot programme of activities.

Alongside diocesan and national church funding, the Cascade steering group is grateful to the Dorothy Kerin Trust (Burrswood Health and Wellbeing in the Community) for their generous funding of the development phase of the project.

More details about the project will be shared throughout 2025.

Key Contacts