Train with the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network

When you’re facing a difficult time, coming to terms with a diagnosis, or just need a listening ear, you should be able to explore life’s big questions with someone who shares your worldview. But despite 53% of the British population saying they have no religion, this provision is sorely lacking.

Join us in changing this.

We have an incredible volunteer team driving change in chaplaincy and pastoral care across the UK, and we would love to be able to provide pastoral support to more non-religious people in need.

You’ll need to be able to commit at least half a day a week to volunteering, and you’ll need some tenacity along with the confidence and interpersonal skills to work with religious colleagues. You’ll be rewarded by being a positive support to people in their hour of need, and by being part of real change. We’re working hard to try to establish more paid pastoral care posts as well, so it could lead to a career.

We run weekend induction/training courses and manage a UK-wide network of carers. Our induction training is meant to give you some insight into non-religious pastoral care practice and how it operates in the very different environments of prisons, health care, education and more. Role plays and practice pastoral care sessions are used in the course to help indicate to you, and to help us assess, that you are able to provide this sort of care. Successful trainees are then accredited to the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network.

We then support those we accredit to approach their local hospital, prison, or other institution to offer to provide pastoral support on a voluntary or salaried basis. The time commitment would have to be agreed with the institution but may vary from about a day a week to half a day a fortnight depending on circumstances. The prison/hospital/institution will then give further training in things like security, hygiene, shadowing chaplains etc.

Here you can download an application pack that gives further details of the training as well as the attributes we look for in a volunteer. Please complete your details below if you would like to be added to our list of people who are interested in the training courses. We will email you about upcoming courses when we are running these, at which point, if you are still interested, you can submit an application.

The cost of the course and the accreditation fees are met by Humanists UK if you are a current Humanists UK member. If you are not a member, the cost of the training will be £225 plus a £25 annual accreditation fee.

If you have any questions or queries about the training or what is involved in pastoral support please contact training@humanistcare.org.uk 

This is a real opportunity to help people at times of difficulty and vulnerability. It is also to ensure that non-religious people have the same access to care and support as religious people and that non-religious people have the same opportunity to provide that care.

Please Note:

The NRPSN Pastoral Care Course is designed for individuals who hold a non-religious belief system; whether you identify as humanist, agnostic, atheist, freethinker, or a combination of these. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to offer professional, ethical support in healthcare, prisons, education and the Armed Forces.

It's important to note that professional chaplaincy standards across these sectors require that pastoral carers receive endorsement or accreditation from their faith or belief group. As the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (NRPSN), we are the official accreditor for those providing non-religious pastoral care in chaplaincy. This ensures that individuals working in these roles are aligned with the ethical values and worldview associated with non-religious beliefs.

We uphold these standards not to exclude, but to ensure that those in chaplaincy roles genuinely represent the beliefs and values of the communities they serve; just as a vicar is trained and licensed by their Christian denomination, or an imam by their mosque. This alignment of belief and professional accreditation helps guarantee that non-religious pastoral carers can confidently and effectively offer support to those who share or respect a non-religious worldview.

If you are committed to supporting others within the framework of a non-religious belief system, apply for our course and take the next step toward becoming a fully accredited non-religious pastoral carer.