A few weeks ago, a team of media students from the college across the road arrived in the Dock looking for a project.  We had just printed some ‘Volunteer at The Dock’ leaflets to try to grow the Dock volunteer team – so we challenged them to turn that leaflet into a 5-minute movie.  And this is the utterly superb result:

Isn’t it fab?  Well done to Ross, Judith, Alex and Fergus for being great examples of what the Dock is all about – and massively well-done to the film-making crew who really did manage to get the essence of the Dock – and the joy of being a volunteer – into an emotional and inspiring little nugget of film.  Top marks!

It’s a good week to be talking about Dock Volunteers – it is national Volunteer Week and so a colourful little board has appeared in Dock Cafe giving customers a chance to encourage and thank the people who tirelessly serve them their coffee every day.  It’s great to see it filling up fast!

And if I could just add a little personal message and thank-you to all our amazing volunteers:  I actually, honestly, truly do love you crazy crew!  What a fantastic bunch of dedicated, generous, friendly, tireless, patient, trusting, uplifting, caring, wonderful people you are.

In the middle of the manic panic of finally getting the tram on the road over the past couple of weeks, I’ve finally been able to see Dock Cafe as others see it – a place of sanctuary, welcome, warmth and peace in the middle of a hectic life.

Calling in briefly while rushing around doing tram stuff, the volunteers always cheer me up if I’m down, give me strength if I feel weary, make me laugh when I’m feeling gloomy, and – always – make me coffee.  On one memorable occasion, stressed-out with another particularly difficult round of legislation requirements for the tram licence, I arrived in the Dock in foul form, to be greeted by a wonderful volunteer (who shall remain nameless, my daaaarlin’) who let me vent and rant and rage until I felt about a thousand times better (and the air had turned about a thousand shades blu-er!)   I know I’m supposed to be one of the Chaplains, but it was definitely me that received some chaplain-ing that day!

There’ve been some tough days recently – all the more reason to be profoundly grateful for this haven, this literal God-send, in the middle of the Titanic Quarter – and to be so, so thankful for the amazing people who make it happen.