Policy Officer

**Sheffield Cathedral**

**Policy Officer**

**Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA**

Company Registration Number: 09481073 VAT Registration Number: GB972076211

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**Welcome from The Very Reverend Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield**

Sheffield Cathedral sits at the heart of a great city. Known throughout the world for its steel, its football, and its music, Sheffield is a city that has survived tough times, and is loved passionately by those who live here. The Cathedral has a history of hosting cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions, as well as providing educational opportunities for schools across the region.

We aspire to be a place for all people and, as we emerge from the Covid pandemic, the team at the Cathedral are looking at every aspect of what we do to see how we are fulfilling this ambition, and what new things we can do to reach out to a wider, more diverse range of people. At its heart, Sheffield Cathedral is a place of worship with a growing congregation of people, originating from countries across the world. Most importantly, Sheffield Cathedral is a holy place where prayers are said daily, and people come to seek quiet space and sanctuary within our ancient walls.

Our governance will be going through considerable change over the next 18 months, as we transition into being a registered charity. I am delighted that you are interested in journeying with us through this period; you will be joining a dynamic, highly motivated team, seeking to make a difference. I hope you enjoy reading about the Cathedral and the advertised role.

Abi

**Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA**

Company Registration Number: 09481073 VAT Registration Number: GB972076211

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**Background information**

Cathedrals are unique and wonderful spaces, providing welcome and inspiration to pilgrims, visitors, and future generations. They are integral to their local communities (never more so than during the coronavirus pandemic) but are also recognised nationally and globally as key heritage sites.

Sheffield Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Sheffield. The Diocese has a population of 1.4m, covering most of South Yorkshire and parts of the East Riding of

Yorkshire, but centred around the commercial and industrial districts of Sheffield, Rotherham,

Barnsley, and Doncaster. The Cathedral sits at the southern-most point of the Diocese.

The Cathedral stands in the centre of the large and thriving City of Sheffield, as an icon of the Christian faith and the City’s living history. First built in the 12th century, this beautiful and sacred place is a Grade 1 listed building. It is also the oldest building in the city in continuous use. Formerly the parish church of Sheffield, cathedral status was granted in

1914.

The Cathedral is ‘A Place for All People’. It is very much part of the Sheffield community and seeks to make everyone welcome through all it does. It offers a wide range of activities and events, which not only showcase the Cathedral, but also make the building of interest to groups of people who might not normally cross the threshold of a church.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, the Cathedral welcomed about 200,000 visitors each year, from around the world. With the closure of the Cathedral, through the first part of 2021, visitor numbers have declined. The Cathedral team is now working hard to rebuild the congregation and visitor numbers to pre-COVID levels, through worship and prayer and a diverse range of concerts, music events, recitals, and other events to suit the tastes of a range of audiences. We are also working closely with stakeholders including the city council, the Diocese, and the wider business and voluntary sector community, as well as having a particular link with the Archer Project, a homelessness charity, who operate from within the Cathedral building.

The Cathedrals Measure 2021 marks a huge change in how cathedrals will organise themselves and how they are regulated. Under the Cathedrals Measure, each cathedral is obliged to register as a charity with the Charity Commission. Successful registration will require some fundamental changes to how cathedrals operate on a day-to-day basis, and their governance by a Board of Trustees. In addition, the transition to becoming a charity and operating as a charity day-to-day will require a cultural change that will need to be embedded into Cathedral life.

Joining Sheffield Cathedral at this time presents a range of exciting opportunities, to be part of the development of an organisation that is embracing change and seeking to freshen its image, and to engage with a diverse range of people. The current team are ambitious and are committed to making our vision to be _‘A Place for All People’_ become a reality.

**Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA**

Company Registration Number: 09481073 VAT Registration Number: GB972076211

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**JO