Being a Group Leader

Patrick Kelleher, HCPT Group 21. Number of years involved in the Trust: 12 years

My first experience of HCPT was as a Sixth Former at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. My initial view was that it would be a fantastic experience, but ultimately it would help boost my university applications. Twelve years on it would seem that I caught the HCPT ‘bug’ very quickly.

It is fair to say that I did not wake up one day thinking that I wanted to become a group leader within HCPT. As deputy group leader for Group 21 for a number of years I thrived on the additional responsibility given to me and I simply knew that I wanted to continue being involved in the Trust.

When I knew that I was going to become the new group leader of Group 21 my first feeling was one of absolute panic. I felt a huge burden of responsibility to ensure that all members of my group were able to experience a safe and enjoyable Pilgrimage. Thankfully my fears were short lived. Over the past three years I have been able to seek advice and guidance from a number of people including former group leaders, members of the Met North West Region and HQ. It is only due to their knowledge and caring nature that the Trust continues to thrive.

Three years on I feel much more comfortable in my role of Group Leader. I often make mistakes but luckily I have a supportive, yet brutally honest team around me to guide me in the right direction when needed.

What it means to be a group leader

It is true to say that a large part of being a Group Leader is dealing with the administration involved in organising a successful Pilgrimage to Lourdes, yet there are more gratifying elements to organising a successful Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The most important people within any group are the children we take to Lourdes each year. Therefore, the most important element of organising the Pilgrimage to Lourdes is finding children who would benefit from the activities of the Trust. It is also essential to consider the families involved, as many of them would benefit from much needed respite where it is not provided, in many cases.

Secondly it is important to find volunteers who are willing to commit their time and finances to aiding the work of this hugely popular charity. Luckily, as a teacher at a Voluntary-Aided Secondary School I am able find many helpers in the form of Sixth Formers who are able to use this experience as part of the Community Service Scheme that exists within the School. Like me, many of them use this experience to boost their personal statements but many of them continue to go to Lourdes year after year. Many of the helpers that go to Lourdes with Group 21 are Old Vaughanians, which clearly emphasises the sense of community within the Trust.

In terms of what it means to be a group leader I would have to say that it involves seven months of stress and absolute mayhem, followed by one week of enjoyment and a sense of great achievement. For me it is quite awe inspiring to look at the rest of the group and witness the kind nature that inherently exists in all people.

What I get out of being a group leader

Being a group leader within HCPT- The Pilgrimage Trust has provided me with the opportunity to meet new people that I would never have met otherwise. One of my closest friends is our group Chaplain who will be in fact marrying me this year- there are not many people who can say that! I have met some amazing families over the years who have truly inspired me to become a better person and servant of the local community. Lastly, I have had the privilege to meet some remarkable children. They all show great strength and bring out the best in all of the volunteers involved in the Trust.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being involved with HCPT is working with the Sixth Formers of The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School who volunteer to take part in the Pilgrimage to Lourdes. When preparing for the trip many of them are nervous and unaware of what to expect. By the end of the week they seem different in some way- they seem more confident and respectful of those around them. They also seem to fully understand the important of team work in achieving common goals. Ultimately, I feel a sense of pride to be associated with these young people.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being a group leader (maybe not the increasing paperwork involved). Quite simply I could not imagine not being involved with the Trust. It is now such a large part of my life, both socially and professionally. Just thinking about it, I met my future wife whilst on Pilgrimage to Lourdes. There is no doubt that as a group leader you must commit a lot of your spare time to the role, but with a dedicated and trustworthy team around me I always look forward to our regular meetings to discuss plans for the next Pilgrimage.