Peterborough Cathedral furloughs staff during lockdown

Dean of Peterborough,the Very Rev Chris Dalliston, said the cathedral was already in a ‘delicate’ financial position, and the ability to furlough staff was a useful tool in helping deal with financial pressures.

In total 26 staff have been furloughed at the cathedral, with many of those who have been furloughed being part time workers. The dean said that it was thought most members of staff at the cathedral could be furloughed.

He said: “We think the majority of our team will be able to be part of the scheme – it will mean that their jobs will still be there for them when this is over. Clearly our finance and management team will need to hold the fort, ensure the bills are paid and deal with any wider issues as they emerge. Last week was an extraordinarily busy and demanding one for them as we tried to adapt the new circumstances. Ofcourse with our cathedral closed and no revenue from events or donations our already delicate financial position and our steps towards recovery will be further stretched, but we are not alone in that and will do all we can to mitigate our losses.”

A spokesman for the cathedral added: “26 of the cathedral staff (many of them part-time) have gone on furlough. These are staff who cannot continue with their work in current circumstances. This will be reviewed monthly”

The dean said that although the lockdown had made pastoral work difficult, they were finding a way.

He said: “On a pastoral level we are endeavouring to keep in touch as best we can with as many of you as we can, especially those who are isolated or vulnerable. Unfortunately what we have found, now that we are not seeing people week by week, is just how inadequate our database and contact lists are. Anxieties over GDPR regulations has meant that we haven’t got up to date information for everyone so please do let us know if you would like a call or conversation or need any help.

“One of the redeeming features of the situation is that we have lots of ways of communicating these days and social media, WhatsApp groups and the like are helping to bind some of us together.”

Fordetails visit www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk