QLCC 17-19 April 2026
Quaker Life Central Committee (QLCC) reviewed and agreed changes to areas of work related to safeguarding, prison chaplaincy and antisemitism. We heard about Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) and the reparation work of the Yearly Meeting.
What is this committee responsible for?
QLCC guides all Quaker work to support Quaker communities to grow, thrive and be inclusive.
What did it do at this meeting?
Amongst other things we considered the work Woodbrooke is doing and were pleased to see that the Quaker learning organisation was exceeding its agreed targets and recognised the need to increase introductory learning about Quaker roles. We agreed changes to the safeguarding procedures and toolkit for area meetings, and updated the terms of reference for the Quaker Prison Chaplains Committee to reflect changes in how a Quaker Faith and Belief Advisor (a government role) is appointed. We also set up a challenging antisemitism looking forward group to help the Yearly Meeting consider what would help us now with recognising and responding to antisemitism.
We heard about the recent Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM), which saw around 50 16-18 year-olds come together over the Easter weekend. A number of this year's cohort were young people who were involved in online Quaker youth groups during the Covid pandemic, while adults who volunteered in those sessions have also become JYM volunteers. It was a useful reminder about the long-term impact of our work.
We also spent time consideration reparation work and the hope of the Reparation Working Group to be in contact with all area meetings to build shared ownership of this work. Reparation is all of our work, not something to be carried solely by those living within the legacies of enslavement.
How can I find out more?