The Society of St Vincent de Paul has been engaging with young people and education since its earliest days. Today, the SVP of England and Wales is pleased to highlight its continuing strong links with young people, through the development of its ‘Mini Vinnies’ programme
‘Mini Vinnies’ are children aged between 7 to 11 who, with the permission of their parents and the support of their Schools, are encouraged to embark on their first steps as possible ‘Vincentians for life’. As Mini Vinnies, the youngsters have their own ‘treasured’ Prayer, Pledge and Badge, a dedicated website and a range of bright and colourful documents which guide them in their formative steps – helping and enabling them to become in every sense, young Vincentians – or ‘Mini Vinnies’.
Our Lady of Lourdes Mini Vinnies are a group of children from Years 4,5 and 6 who have taken a pledge to be part of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. They meet every Thursday to think about ways in which they can help to support people in our school and Parish family.
Our Mini-Vinnies take their role very seriously and work on a simple principle of ‘See, think, do’. They see a need, they think about what they can do to help and then they do it.
Our Mini-Vinnies, have organised coffee afternoons for members of the Parish, have visited Croft House (a local care home) to sing for the residents and spend time with them. They have planned and made up Lenten bags which they then distributed to Parish members and they regularly make and share prayer cards with the Parish and school community. The children have taken great pride in collecting donations of food from the Parish which they have combined with school donations to make up hampers for our local families and foodbank. Most recently, our Mini-Vinnie’s have organised a fundraising appeal for the children in Fr. Peter’s country in Mayanmar: who are living in difficult and dangerous conditions. The project which has been named ‘Children2Children’, involves our school kitchen making biscuits each Friday which are then sold at the end of the day. All money raised goes to the children of Mayanmar.
Our Mini Vinnies have such a positive impact upon the lives of those within our Parish and wider community.
