We are delighted to announce that the Provincial (Fr Michael) has appointed Fr Hugh Preston SDB to the position of "Animator to Salesian Schools" in the British Province.

Operating as a member of the Youth Ministry Team, Hugh's role is both wide and varied, but essentially his main role consists in promoting and developing the Salesian character of our schools within the Salesian network in Great Britain.

Whilst Hugh will bring his own personality and character to the post, it is expected that he will

• advise, resource and support our Schools as an integral part of the Mission of our Province in order to ensure a consistent reflection on, and application and appraisal of, the principles of the Preventive System, and to further develop the coherent identity of the Schools whilst respecting their individual characters.

• be a conduit for relations between the Provincial, the Youth Ministry Team and Head Teachers, Chairs of Governors and Governing Bodies, in order to assist strategies for planning, information and development relating to Salesian identity, education and youth ministry.

• facilitate common projects between Schools and the participation of Schools in the wider context of the ministry of the Province, as well as the European and International network of Salesian Schools.

• collaborate closely with the Salesian Youth Ministry Team, particularly in the areas of Chaplaincy, "out of school" activities and others including Volunteering and Justice and Peace.

Fr Hugh brings a wealth of experience to the post, both in formal and non-formal education - he has just finished four years as Rector of our Youth Retreat Centre, Savio House. All of us on the Youth Ministry Team welcome him, and we are sure that he will do an excellent job in the coming years.