Photo: Vic and Ellen are lay chaplains with the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB)
At South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB), chaplains are a quiet but vital presence that offer support, comfort, and a listening ear to ambulance staff across the region.
Both Senior Chaplain Ellen and Chaplain Vic, who has served in the chaplaincy for over 15 years, are among those who have committed their lives to this unique and deeply personal role.
Ellen’s journey into chaplaincy began while volunteering as a Community First Responder. It was during one shift that she first met Vic on an ambulance.
“I remember sitting in the ambulance and saying to Vic, ‘This is what I want to do. I want to be a chaplain like you'” Ellen recalls. “And Vic said, ‘You’ll have to be trained as a licensed lay minister.’”
That conversation was the beginning of a shared commitment. Both Ellen and Vic are now trusted, familiar faces within SECAMB, and both are authorised chaplains through their churches, which is a requirement for all chaplains working in the service.
Despite common misconceptions, chaplaincy is not about converting people to Christianity.
“People often assume we’re here to evangelise, but that’s really not the case,” Vic explains. “Most of our time is spent sitting in the ambulance station drinking lots of coffee and talking to staff.
"It’s important the staff know us. They will come and chat with us in their own time.”
Chaplains are available 24/7, sometimes accompanying crews on shifts, other times simply being present at the station. Conversations range from light-hearted chats to deeply personal pastoral discussions.
Every interaction is recorded confidentially, and nothing is ever shared without permission.
Ellen puts it simply: “Some people say, ‘I’m not religious, but I need support.’ And the truth is, they’re comfortable with us. They know they can talk about anything—whether it’s about cats or what they’re having for lunch.”
Faith is a personal matter, and chaplains respect that. Their role is to support people of all faiths and none. What matters most is presence, compassion, and connection.
“We do what we do because we have a calling for it,” Ellen says. “We feel God has called us, and we really love being with the ambulance crews.”
Both Ellen and Vic attend the same church and share a close friendship that strengthens their work. Their devotion to chaplaincy is rooted not just in faith, but in a deep love for the people they serve.
As Vic says, “The best part of being a chaplain is being there for the ambulance crews, whether in the station or on shift with them.”
Their work may be quiet and behind the scenes, but for many within SECAMB, the presence of chaplains offers a steady, comforting source of care.