.png)
Every day, someone comes to Beachy Head in crisis. That is why this January, Coda Pharmacy is honoured to partner with the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team as our Charity of the Month.
Two members of our team, Colin and Molly, recently visited the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team hub, where they spent time talking with some of the dedicated volunteers who work every day to support and protect people at Beachy Head.
Who are The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team?
The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team is a Christian charity offering compassionate support to people in crisis. All year round, their chaplains are present on the clifftops, taking time to listen and to be there for those who are struggling, often at the most difficult moments of their lives.
The charity was founded in 2004 by Ross Hardy, who recognised the urgent need to support people arriving at the cliffs in deep distress, often alone and unseen. His aim was simple: to make sure someone was there to notice, to care, and to respond before it was too late.
Since then, that vision has grown into a team of trained chaplains, both staff and volunteers. They patrol on foot and by car, respond to emergency calls, and help locate people who may be at risk. Since the charity began, the team has supported more than 7,500 people in crisis and helped them find a safer and more hopeful way forward.
At the heart of their work is a belief that no one should face the edge alone.
The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team Volunteers
Gerry, CEO of the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team, explains: “We were founded on the belief that everybody deserves dignity, respect and compassion, no matter who they are or what they have done.
There’s many things where that person now finds themselves in a mental health crisis and for them that crisis, they are in a dark, dark place and that brings them to Beachy Head.”
The charity currently has 22 trained chaplains ready to help anyone in distress. Training to become a chaplain takes three months and requires a deep sense of selflessness, resilience, and compassion.
Volunteer chaplain Geoff describes the work on the ground: “We cover from Birling gap to the end of Beachy Head Road and down to Warren Hill. We go out and get a bit of a lie of the land, check who’s about and what cars are around.
If we see a car up here that got here at 2pm and it's still here at 5pm and there’s no one around, we get a bit more worried, we clock everything that's going on.”
Beachy Head is a place of incredible beauty, but it is also where some people come during their darkest moments. As long as people arrive here in crisis, the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team will be there to meet them, listen to them, and do what they can to help.
Volunteer chaplain Peter said: “They are up here for a variety of different reasons, it might be anxiety, depression, a mental health issue, a matrimonial issue, a relationship issue or financial, it might be anything.
But for that one person at that one point in time at that moment of crisis in their lives it’s the biggest thing that they have ever dealt with. I don’t think any of us can imagine what that's really like to be sitting at the cliff edge, thinking about taking your own life.”
The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team has five values:
- Seeking out
- Reaching out
- Giving support
- Offering hope
- Saving lives
Further Information and Links
If you or a loved one are facing suicidal thoughts, please know help is always available. Visit the link here to contact the Samaritans helpline.
For more information on The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team, visit their website here.
To donate, visit https://donorbox.org/bhct-fundraising-form-2025
Thinking of volunteering? Visit https://www.bhct.org.uk/volunteer
We cannot thank the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team enough for partnering with us this month, and for their incredible team taking the time to share their inspiring work. It has been a real privilege to shine a light on what they do, and we look forward to finding more ways to support this remarkable charity in the future. We can’t wait to share more from our time spent with the team. Follow our socials to be the first to see. Facebook Instagram YouTube
Coda Pharmacy is here to support you every step of the way. From offering expert advice to delivering your NHS prescriptions free of charge. If you have any questions about what you have read in this article or any of the services that Coda Pharmacy can provide you with, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us here.