SVP 1833 in England & Wales
Brighton and Sussex Universities
Where we are...
Based in Brighton and Sussex Universities the group meets on the first Sunday of every month and has 8 active members. Despite having separate chaplains and chaplaincy we co-operate well together. The group meets for a "relaxed gathering" after Mass and the activities we undertake include soup run, learning support in schools and help with a local Refugees project. Pictured right are Brighton & Sussex SVP 1833 members attending a retreat at Worth Abbey with the University Chaplain, Sister Blanaid.
What we do...
- Soup run on the seafront once a month
- Meet with refugees once a week
- Vist and help out at Patcham House Special School
Who to contact...
President - Claire Brennan Email: C.M.Brennan@sussex.ac.uk
Spiritual adviser - Chaplain (Brighton) - Sr Blanaid McCauley b.m.mccauley@bton.ac.uk
Further Info...
A joint SVP 1833 Conference serves both universities, with one of the chaplains, Sister Blanaid McCauley as the Spiritual adviser. Re-launched in November last year, the Conference has recruited new members who are active in several projects. They take their turn once a month in the soup-run on Brighton sea-front (pictured left), bringing a welcome warm meal and companionship to the many homeless in the area. Members give a helping hand at Patcham House Special School and also spend time every week befriending visitors to the Brighton Refugee Project, "Voices in Exile." Sr Blanaid is currently gathering students together at the Eastbourne campus to involve them in SVP activities too.
"Seek and find those who are forgotten"
The Conference has discovered needs close to home and has set up its own befriending scheme to students who are lonely or who are finding it difficult to integrate into university life. They are invited to join the community at Howard House chaplaincy for meals and events organised by the SVP members. The group has shown particular care to a student suffering from cancer and also a refugee who is struggling to gain permanent residence in this country.
"Christmas, a journey of hope" 
This was the theme of a Christmas Carol Service, which many of the SVP members helped to organise. It focussed on the whole issue of refugees, with a reminder of the experience of many in our world today and their journey of exile from oppressive regimes, poverty or hunger in their search for freedom and security. Two SVP student members put together a Powerpoint presentation illustrating areas of hope, which was shown during the Carol Service. Posters represented the "Soup Run", "Amnesty", "Childline", "The Big Issue", "Make Poverty History", "Samaritans", "Trade Justice", "Peace and Conflict Resolution", "Homelessness", "Health Equality" and "Voices in Exile" At the end of the service the students organised a collection which raised £161 for the refugee project "Voices in Exile" in which many of the members are involved.
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