TGt Meets...Eden Hunter, College Chaplain at Bath College

Meet our latest TGt Meets...Eden Hunter, a College Chaplain at Bath College. We got to know all about his role and what inspired him to pursue his current career.

Tell us a little bit about yourself…

Hi, I’m Eden, the new Multi-faith College Chaplain at bath College.

I have grown up in Bath my entire life and so am very familiar with the area (although sadly I went to sixth form in Bristol and not Bath College). I enjoy pretty much all types of gaming (from table-top to PC), reading, watching classic films, and my favourite food is burritos. Something I do in my spare time is digital illustration. I am still a beginner at the moment but I am using it to create stories.

I have been involved with youth work in the City for a while now and I love it! It’s both an excuse to have fun and an amazing opportunity to positively impact the lives of teenagers in Bath. I continue to do youth work alongside this Chaplain position with an organisation called Youth for Christ. This entails being the youth minister for a Church in Bath called St Luke’s. I think Church should be one of the most exciting, joyful, and energetic places you can go (rather than the lifeless and boring places many have come to think of Church as)!

Please tell us a little bit about what a College Chaplain is/does…

There are a good few things that a chaplain is, but one of the main things is a friendly, non-judgmental listening ear. I offer a space to anyone regardless of faith, sexuality, or gender to talk about and reflect on any worries; whether pastoral, spiritual, or just to chat! I am also available to talk about more specific topics like self-image, grievance, world religion, history of religion etc.

A chaplain is an advocate (someone who stands up for and supports others), so I am here to support students through the turbulent world we live in and the struggles they might face in day to day life.

Another thing I do is raise awareness for different faith based observances and events. These are events like Remembrance Day, a Christmas carol service, Ramadan, and more. I love this part of the job as it lets me release my creative side!

I also look after a room for reflection, meditation, and prayer called the Sanctuary.

What persuaded you to apply for this role at Bath College?

I love working with and getting involved with the lives of young people! I do get an opportunity to do this in the other areas I work in, but I’m not one who enjoys being cooped up in a church all the time. I’d much rather be where young people are.

Did you always want to work in education? If so, why/ If not, what did you want to pursue?

Although my main focus had been youth work in some capacity for the last 4/5 years, I didn’t think about chaplaincy until I saw this position advertised. Fun fact: Before I started working in Ministry I was actually the manager of a toy shop.

What do you love most about working at Bath College?

I really enjoy how involved I can get in the life of the college. Like a few weeks ago when I walked around dressed as a fried egg for Hello Yellow mental health awareness day!

What do you love doing when you aren’t busy at work?

I generally enjoy hanging out with friends, reading, illustrating, and the other things I have named earlier.