A Ship called Dignity

Back in 1987 Deacon Blue released the Song Dignity – which tells the story an ordinary street cleaner who finds purpose, pride, and quiet self-worth in his daily work despite his circumstances. We have been wrestling recently with what Dignity means for us here at the Mission and this has resulted in the Board of Huddersfield Mission recently agreeing a new policy around dignity. The Mission has numerous policies, many of which we are required to have, but our Dignity Policy is something that we have proactively chosen to develop and adopt.

The policy was developed following a discussion at one of our monthly staff meetings. It helps us to understand what dignity is and how we ensure that it is part of the normal way that we work – at the heart of what we do - not an add-on.

Dignity means protecting a person’s agency (their right to choose), ensuring their safety, and providing a non-judgmental space where they feel heard and valued. Dignity isn’t just a feeling; it’s an action we take to empower others and respect their right to be exactly who they are.

As we put this policy into practice, we are reminded of the words of Maya Angelou:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Our Dignity Policy ensures that long after a policy document is filed away, the people who walk through our doors remember the Huddersfield Mission as a place where they felt genuinely seen, respected, and valued.

That feeling of being valued is exactly what the song Dignity captures so beautifully. It tells the story of an ordinary man working hard to save up for a boat, looking for "a place in the winter for dignity." At Huddersfield Mission, we want our building and our services to be exactly that—a place in the winter, and all year round, where people can find, protect, and rebuild their own sense of dignity.