Leeds Trinity celebrates 25 years of Chaplaincy event promoting community and belonging

Tea on the Landing

Source: Leeds Trinity University

Leeds Trinity University is celebrating its 25th anniversary of Tea on the Landing, a weekly gathering, that takes place at its Main Campus in Horsforth, reminding the University community made up of colleagues, students and visitors, of the importance of in-person social interactions.

Originally launched in 1999 by Angela Filarowski, a former Chaplaincy Assistant at Leeds Trinity, to engage more people with the Chaplaincy service, Tea on the Landing offers attendees a chance to connect over a range of complimentary food and drinks every Wednesday morning.

Still led by the Chaplaincy team and supported by the wider University community who volunteer to prepare and serve the food and beverages, Tea on the Landing has developed into a popular event attracting regular and first-time visitors, many of whom would not have met or interacted in person otherwise.

As the University landscape has changed with the transition to hybrid working and online meetings and the introduction of Leeds Trinity's new City Campus, Tea on the Landing has remained a constant throughout periods of change helping to maintain a sense of community, togetherness and belonging.

Delivering Tea on the Landing also supports the Chaplaincy's aim to help individuals with their personal and spiritual journey through university life. The Chaplaincy deliver regular events that allow people to connect, serve the community, ask questions, and pray - in accordance with their mission.

Cat Sayburn, Lay Chaplain at Leeds Trinity University, said: "As a Chaplaincy, our mission is to see faith making its power felt through love. Tea on the Landing is a true reflection of this in the way that it serves all in our community. We want each person we encounter at Tea on the Landing to feel part of that community, to be seen and known, and to have a safe space to talk. Yes, we're serving crumpets and tea, but more importantly, we're offering a safe and welcoming space where students and staff feel supported. Tea on the Landing is about much more than a morning tea - it's about belonging, community, connection, and the chance to be present with one another."

Although the event now takes place in the Atrium, which did not exist when the event was launched in 1999, the Chaplaincy has opted to keep the original name to honour the work of their former colleague Angela Filarowski, who also organised social activities such as early-morning swims, countryside walks, and cinema trips for students during her time at Leeds Trinity.

Angela Filarowski said: "It is truly exciting to hear that Tea on the Landing is still going strong 25 years later. When I came up with the idea, it was my hope that it would inspire future colleagues to keep the initiative alive. I am delighted to see it having such a long lifespan and continuing to positively impact the experiences of so many students and staff, especially those who are studying or working at the University more than two decades after I left. I'm delighted to have played my part in creating what has become a much-loved staple of life at Leeds Trinity University, and hope it continues to bring people together for many years to come."

Read more about Leeds University Chaplaincy here: www.leedstrinitychaplaincy.co.uk/