A Pilgrim's Progress 

I joined HMPO in September 2006 being assigned to the Fraud team. My investigation started: where are the Christians in this office and organisation? In 2010, I joined the Diversity forum where I encountered the Home Office Support Groups and was challenged to establish a group in Peterborough. Having consulted with management in 2011, a group began and flourished.  As a National Executive committee member, I discovered like-minded colleagues across HMPO, developing relationships that flourished especially with Yammer. The next ambition was to establish a National conference for our members across the Home Office departments. Our 1st conference was at Liverpool Cathedral in October 2016.

Meanwhile, an annual event was established in this office in 2011, initially with no staff facility time, then 30 minutes allocated in 2016, which increased to 1 hour in 2017 & 2018 incorporating music, choir, drama, quiz and an external guest speaker. 2019 will be my last Carol Event with HMPO prior to my retirement in November 2020. This year’s Carol Event will be held in Aragon Court’s Main Canteen on the 2nd floor at 1 pm Wednesday 11th December 2019 again with 1- hour facility time being granted.

Building bridges
I invited network representatives to join our 2018 National Conference at Peterborough Cathedral where I was the key coordinator. This proved remarkably successful by all who attended. Also, my Christian faith article was fully published in the June 2019 Spectrum magazine. 

As a significant protected characteristic, the Home Office Christian Network’s profile is growing with groups established in Globe House, Belfast, Durham and Peterborough along with contacts throughout. The Messenger (HOCN’s Newsletter) displayed on WIDEN noticeboards through this building with email circulation, regular Prayer teleconferences, Yammer updates, weekly meetings taking place (in our own time) and our 3rd National conference being planned for March 2020 to take place in London SE1.

I now look for someone to take over the lead for HOCN@ HMPO both for National Coverage as well as maintaining a representation here in Peterborough. Let me know if you are called to serve in either or both.

Rupert Bobrowicz.