SVP 1833 in England & Wales
Cambridge University
Where we are...
Based at Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy, we meet every Thursday of the University full term at 6.30pm. Some of our activities continue out of term time - please contact us for details.
What we do...
We are committed to four main activities:
- The Hope Residential and Nursing Care Home, where we visit at least once a week especially residents who do not have family or friends nearby and/or who are unable to join in group activities because of their disabilities. Sometimes we help the activities co-ordinator with group activities. We also organise our own craft afternoons or provide an afternoon’s entertainment with music, poetry recitals etc, and we arrange occasional outings for them.
- Jimmy’s Night Shelter. We organize a clothing collection during National Homelessness Awareness Week and also a food collection at the Harvest Festival. We have supplied kitchen equipment for them and at Christmas we have a “Giving Tree” so people can pledge gifts for those who spend Christmas at Jimmy’s
- Oakington Immigration Reception Centre. Because of the high security we have not yet been able to visit, but we have collected sports and games equipment for the detainees. We also make hand-crafted cards for detainees so that they have something to give to their families on occasions or when they visit.
- Soup runs for the homeless on the streets of Cambridge. We take food and hot drinks to people who sleep on the streets and to ‘Big Issue’ sellers. This also provides an opportunity to chat with them and show caring, which seems to be valued as much as the actual food.
We are also in contact with the local parish and exchange visits with their SVP.
We have done quite a bit of fund-raising through events like the chaplaincy bar quiz and our “Caring Carolers” event in the centre of Cambridge, to raise money for our various activities, and we also sent £240 to the SVP Haiti appeal.
Who to contact...
President – Emily Parr. Email: ecpp2@cam.ac.uk or fisherhouse_svp@yahoo.co.uk
Spiritual adviser - Sister Mirjam
You can also find our group on Facebook.
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