A BIG Announcement
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
From Jacqueline Cale:
On July 1st, after five amazing years as Founder and Co-Director of the Celebrant Circle, I will be stepping down from actively managing the organisation and handing over the reins to the more-than-capable hands of my wonderful partner, Shelley Jackson-Woodall.
This has been the hardest decision to make, and not one taken lightly. I’ve absolutely loved setting up and being part of the Circle - watching it grow from a shared vision into a beautiful and successful reality. It’s been quite a journey!
However, we’ve not been on this journey alone. From the very beginning, our ‘Founder Members’ have been right behind us every step of the way. Without you, the Circle would never have come into being. Thank you to each and every one of you.
As we grew - from the new kids on the block to a highly-respected training and membership organisation – teaching, mentoring, and getting to know so many of new members and students has been an absolute privilege and a joy. Thank you for putting your trust in us; it’s been truly special to have watched you gain your celebrant ‘wings’ and fly!
I’m blessed to be able to now call many of you my friends.
With all of that said, the good news is that I’ll not be leaving the Circle completely!
I will still be here, both as an active member and part of the training team. You’ll see me pop up from time to time, hosting our weekly ‘Surgeries’ and (if Shelley lets me!) running occasional Training and Development sessions.
I’m not ready to fully hang up my celebrant - my training wings - quite yet!
You will, I’m sure, give Shelley immense support as she takes over the role of running the Celebrant Circle. You couldn’t be in more capable hands, and I'm so delighted that she is going to be at the helm - steering it into the future with heartfelt enthusiasm and in her own inimitable style. She has some great plans, so watch this space for exciting things to come!
I want to say a huge and very personal thank you to you, Shelley, for being the most wonderful partner and colleague I could ever have wished for. You truly are an exceptional human.
Again, my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your friendship, support, loyalty, and belief in the Celebrant Circle. We couldn’t have done it without you, and I’ll look forward eagerly to seeing how we grow within this amazing profession!
With love, Jacqueline x.
From Shelley:
While I completely respect and support Jacqueline's decision, I would be lying if I said it wasn't accompanied by very mixed emotions. It has been an enormous privilege to work alongside her over the years, and I wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank her for everything she has given to our organisation, not only for the training I received from her to begin my celebrant adventure, many moons ago!
Jacqueline's contribution to Celebrant Circle has been truly extraordinary. She has helped shape not only the organisation itself, but also the values, spirit, and sense of community that sit at its heart. Her dedication, professionalism, warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to excellence have touched the lives of countless students, celebrants, families, and colleagues. So much of what Celebrant Circle is today reflects her influence, and for that I am deeply grateful.
I am incredibly thankful that Jacqueline has offered to support a smooth transition and that she wishes to remain part of the Celebrant Circle family through consultancy work, student support, and assisting our training team when needed. It means a great deal to know that while her role may be changing, her connection to our community remains strong. Jacqueline will always be an important part of the Celebrant Circle story.
On a personal note, I want to thank Jacqueline for her friendship, encouragement, support, and partnership. Building Celebrant Circle together has been one of the most meaningful journeys of my professional life, and one I will always treasure.
Whilst I will miss working alongside her day to day, answering her tech questions, and hearing her many tales, I am excited to see what this next chapter brings. I know that whatever Jacqueline chooses to do next, she will continue to inspire others and make a positive difference, just as she always has.
From all of us at Celebrant Circle, thank you, Jacqueline. We wish you every happiness and success for the future, and we look forward to continuing to welcome you as a cherished member of our community.
Love you, Ferret.
Shelley x
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