We are looking forward to welcoming you to Lichfield Cathedral for Inspire 2025. Through this year’s theme, ‘Our Shared World,’ we will be engaging with the concepts of spirituality, well-being, and courageous advocacy, as well as exploring the beautiful Cathedral. As the pupils engage with each of the interactive sessions, they will be challenged to consider their own and others’ worldviews.

To make the day a success we ask for your help in preparing for the visit by following the guidance below.

The Inspire team will lead the activities throughout the day but support from staff/volunteers is essential to ensure that the sessions run smoothly, and all pupils get the most out of their visit. Your staff/volunteers will need to be allocated to a group prior to the day, it is expected that these adults will work with all children in this group. Please ensure that you follow the correct adult to pupil’s ratio and note that those schools bringing a small number of children will still require at least two adults.

Information to be returned by Tuesday 29th April.
Please return the information below to the education inbox, [email protected] by Tuesday 29th April. Refer to the guidance for completing these forms.

Safeguarding Children and Adults                                              
The Inspire team are DBS cleared and have undergone safeguarding training. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure that all school staff/volunteers have an appropriate DBS clearance.

It is expected that adults attending with a school will stay with their “allocated group” throughout the day, and support pupils within the sessions.

A risk assessment is carried out prior to, during and after Inspire. A separate risk assessment form has been sent with this letter.

In the case of an emergency. In the unlikely event of an emergency the vergers will oversee procedures. The assembly point is on the grass in front of the Cathedral (near the flagpole). If an emergency occurs at any other time during Inspire, the Inspire Team plus school staff/volunteers will be responsible for evacuating the children who are in their care at the time of the emergency. School staff/ volunteers should remain with the group they have been supporting even after evacuation and await further instructions.

Preparing for Your Visit

Allocating your pupils and adults to groups
Please allocate your pupils as equally as possible into four groups:

Earth, fire, air, and water

These are the groups that the pupils will remain in for the activity stations during their visit. (All children will take part in all activities during the day on a rota basis). As far as you are able, also allocate an adult to each group. It is expected that adults attending with your school will stay with this allocated group throughout the day. At lunch time all children and adults will return to their base area. School staff/volunteers are responsible for their own pupils during the lunchtime break.

To complete the Group Sheet for your school, follow these instructions:

  1. Record the number of children in each group and the preferred names of the adults attending and list these names under their allocated group.
  2. Check that you have completed the information at the top right of your Group Sheet.
  3. Contact mobile number for the day. (not the school office number)
  4. Any allergies of attendees.

To complete the Permission for Photography form, please follow the guidance on the form itself.

On the Day

Badges
All adults attending Inspire must have a badge. As the Cathedral will be open for people to visit, identity badges enable people to distinguish between those people who are part of Inspire and those that are general visitors to the Cathedral. Therefore, it is essential that badges can be clearly seen throughout the day. Badges for adults should contain the person’s surname and school. (staff/school ID badges are ideal). Pupils’ badges should contain the child’s first name, school, and the group they have been allocated to. The badge should also be marked to show if they cannot be photographed.

What to Wear
School uniforms should be worn; however, the Cathedral is cold inside even on a hot day. Please advise all members attending to bring a cardigan/jumper/fleece. We do not allow the wearing of hats/headgear inside the Cathedral except for religious purposes.

What to Bring
The Cathedral is a public building; all items brought to the Cathedral are at the person’s own responsibility. Do not bring valuables as Inspire cannot be held responsible for any property. Pupils’ bags will be left unattended in the Cathedral, it is therefore advisable that they bring only their packed lunch and drink with them. Adults, please bring along a reusable cup with a lid if you wish to partake in the free tea or coffee provided in the Cathedral. This is for safety and environmental reasons – we appreciate your co-operation on this.

Toilets
There are no toilets in the cathedral. There are, however, public toilets located near to the Old Stables / Bistro No.19 in The Close (see map on risk form). On arrival it may be wise to take the children to the toilet before the activities start. If children need the toilet during the activities a member from your school will be asked to take them.

On Arrival
You are welcome to come into the Cathedral from 9.30 a.m. and we will be starting the day’s activities at 10.00 a.m.

Coaches are not permitted in ‘The Close’ under any circumstance

 please ensure that your driver is aware of this. The designated dropping-off point is a 2-minute walk from the Cathedral, on Beacon Street.

Please make your way up to the main entrance of the Cathedral (West door). On arrival at the Cathedral’s West Doors your school will be greeted by an Inspire Welcomer. The Welcomer will show the children to their allocated bases.

The Cathedral is open to visitors as normal, some who will be using it as a place of prayer, we therefore respectfully ask that you ensure that there is appropriate behaviour from all during this visit.

At the start of lunch time the children will be sent back to their base seats. They will be your responsibility during lunchtime. You may eat lunch inside the Cathedral (at your base seats) or on the lawn in front of the Cathedral (weather permitting). There will be black bags at the volunteer station for you to put any rubbish in. Please leave any rubbish bags at the volunteer station. The day will finish by 2.30 p.m.

Please note – it is important that you provide a mobile number for a member of staff who will be on this visit, should we need to speak to them whilst they are on route. This number should be on the group sheet that you have returned to the diocese.