Letter from the CoR Collaboration Committee: 2026 Workshops
Building on the success of our previous workshop series, we are pleased to share details of our upcoming workshops.
6th January 2027
Dear Members,
I hope that you have had a blessed and restful Christmas and a peaceful entry into 2026!
First of all, we want to thank you very much for completing the evaluation forms following last year’s Collaboration workshops. We were greatly encouraged and helped by your appreciation of the individual sessions as well as the annual programme as a whole, and we were most grateful for your suggestions for topics for this coming year. When we met to reflect on your feedback, it was clear to us that one or two topics need revisiting and could appropriately and usefully be held on-line rather than in person. In addition, we noted that issues other than those we have prioritised for the past two years - leadership, governance and management – are also in need of mutual exploration and collaboration.
We are therefore offering the following programme for 2026:
1. Vocations and Initial Formation.
On Thursday 26th February from 10.45am (coffee 10.15) to 3.30pm at Selly Park Conference Centre, Birmingham. This session will be an opportunity to explore the topic in the context of today’s world and the current life of Congregations. Sr. Liz Dodd SSJP will join others in contributing their thoughts and experiences.
2. Archives – a follow-up workshop
On Wednesday 11th March from 1.30 – 3.30pm. This will be held on-line by Zoom and will be led by Ms Jenny Smith, whose practical input was so much appreciated when she spoke at last year’s workshop.
3. Community dynamics and working with challenging behaviours.
On Wednesday 10th June from 10.45am (coffee 10.15) to 3.30pm at Selly Park Conference Centre, Birmingham. A psychologist will explore some of the dynamics at work in community relationships and how these can be better understood and worked with.
4. Transitioning to CIO – managing Governance and trusteeship.
On Thursday 9th July from 1.30 – 3.30 pm. This will be held on-line by Zoom and will be led both by professional advisors and religious leaders who have successfully transitioned to CIO.
5. Spirituality of Ageing.
On Thursday 24th September from 10.45 (coffee at 10.15) to 3.30pm at the Convent of the little Sisters of the Poor, Vauxhall, London.
As previously, we invite up to two representatives of each Member Congregation to attend the workshops. Attendees do not need to be the Provincial or leader, and could also be a lay colleague or collaborator involved in a particular area of the administration, community life, etc.
There is no cost for attendance and sandwich lunch will be provided; this is covered by your annual subscription.
Nearer the time, we will send out invitations relating to each of the workshops and ask you to book your place.
The booking form for the first two workshops is available here and should be completed and returned to admin@corew.org.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Workshops, and to all our Members collaborating together as we move forward into the future.
Wishing you every blessing on you and your Congregation for the coming year,
Jane Maltby RSCJ
On behalf of the CoR Collaboration Committee
Share Your Feedback: Collaboration Workshops 2025 Evaluation Form
We invite all Members to share their feedback on the 2025 Collaboration Workshops through our evaluation form, so that future plans truly reflect the needs and priorities of our members.
Throughout 2025, the Conference of Religious has hosted a series of Collaboration Workshops on a range of topics. These events have been very well attended and warmly supported by our Members, and we hope that those who joined us found them both informative and enjoyable.
The Collaboration Committee will be meeting in October to review this year’s workshops and begin shaping a programme for 2026. To help us plan, we would greatly value your feedback.
If you attended any of the 2025 workshops, please complete the evaluation form – your reflections will be extremely helpful in shaping what comes next.
If you were unable to attend this year, we would still love to hear from you. Question 3 of the form invites suggestions for future workshop topics, and your input will ensure the 2026 programme reflects the needs and interests of our Members.
Your views really matter to us. The feedback you share will guide our decisions about future events and help us understand what forms of support and collaboration are most valuable to you. By hearing from as many members as possible, we can ensure that any future programme reflects the real needs and priorities of our members.