Father Robbie O’Callagahan – Director of Youth Services
Father Robbie is a Diocesan Priest and has responsibility for the whole youth service. His job is to ensure that the Briars, reach4, events such as Special 6s, locally based workers and the advice, guidance and resource assistance the Youth Service provides are all done well and work together. He acts as the link between the Youth Service and the rest of the Diocese so that the needs of young people are heard and met. He is increasingly working with other departments in the Diocese and on Diocesan wide initiatives such as a review of Confirmation preparation and celebration, the Diocesan pilgrimage to World Youth Day, peer ministry leadership and training, training for young people as Ministers of Holy Communion. He also leads one week’s retreat each month at The Briars.
Helen Aldridge – Centre Manager
Helen is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the Briars and also provides admin support for the rest of the Youth Service’s work. If you have ever come to the Briars for a retreat, then the good food, comfortable rooms, happy staff and well-kept buildings and grounds are largely due to the work of Helen and her team. She supervises our small army of staff and ensures that the Briars is a friendly and comfortable place to stay.
Ciara Sholl – Programme Leader
If you come to the Briars on retreat, chances are that your retreat will be led by Ciara. She is primarily responsible for our residential youth ministry based at the Briars. Ciara keeps an eye on what we are providing for young people who come here on retreat and is responsible for ensuring that it is always the best experience possible. Ciara also has responsibility for the recruitment, training, supervision and care of the volunteer team.
Tom Baptist – Programme Leader
Tom is responsible for leading our outreach team; reach4. This outreach ministry has proved to be very successful and in demand. Tom ensures that the outreach volunteers are trained, ready and prepared to go and work with parishes and schools all over the diocese. He then goes out and works with them in leading our work with young people on Confirmation programmes, school retreat days, youth group sessions, school missions, young people’s liturgy groups, chaplaincy teams and much more.
Fr Robbie, Helen, Ciara and Tom make up the Leadership Team of the Youth Service. Each year this team is joined by our two second year volunteers who also have leadership responsibilities. The team meets for a full morning once a month to discuss specific issues and frequently in-between to ensure that we work together well. We work with the Trustees and Management Committee of the Youth Service to provide the best service possible for our young people, parishes and schools.
Bernie is our bookings secretary. She is in charge of making sure we get as many people using our services as possible. She is the person to speak to if you want to book a stay at The Briars.
Jill is our finance manager and is responsible for our budgets and for making sure everyone gets paid. Jill is another one of our team that you might speak to if you ring The Briars during the working week.
Angela Gillespie
Angela is the Derby City Catholic Youth Worker and works with Derby city parishes supporting their Confirmation preparation, celebration and follow-up. Her job was created as a joint venture between the Derby city parishes and the Youth Service and has proved to be very successful. Angela works very closely with the rest of the Youth Service team and is a frequent visitor to the Briars. Reach4 has also worked closely with Angela on several Confirmation programmes and groups she works with have been on retreat to the Briars as part of their preparation.
Who to contact
Fr Robbie – Any general query about our work, for training, advice and guidance, resources, events and pilgrimages.
Helen Aldridge - Any question relating to bookings at the Briars and information on our fees and services.
Ciara Sholl – Any question relating to our residential retreat work in general, applying to be on the volunteer team.
Tom Baptist – Any question relating to the work of reach4 and if you want us to come out and work with you and your young people in your parish or school.
