We believe that the young generation are at the heart of real sustainable change as they are the future. We have developed a strong bond with local schools and Mini Vinnie groups who often hold fundraisers for us, send our hostel residents thoughtful cards, donate the harvest collection locally every Autumn, and organise events to raise awareness about the work that we do at the SVP.
Young people can get get involved and contribute in these ways:
- Organise a seasonal treats collection, for example of advent calendars in the pre-Christmas period OR Easter eggs for Easter time.
- Contribute to the school harvest festival each year
- Organise a fundraiser for the SVP
- Donate tinned goods like fruit and vegetables, tomato sauce, tinned tuna, UHT milk, and sweet treats
- Donate new toys and gifts
- Donate sanitary products and nappies
- Donate seasonal treats e.g. advent calendars, easter eggs
Donations of all these items ensure that children of families who do not have very much, get chocolate treats and gifts too at Christmas, Easter and birthdays.
For more information about how your school or group can help us, or how we can support your local Mini-Vinnies' group, do not hesitate to get in touch.
As part of the work that we do here St Vincent's Newcastle, we schedule time for school visits to introduce students to our work and share with them the ways that they can help. Schools and Mini Vinnie leaders will normally contact us or get in touch with their local Young Vincentian Development Officer (YVDO) to arrange a suitable time and date for the visit.
We speak to the children during assembly or a Mini Vinnies meeting and discuss how they can get involved and support us through food or clothing collections, making Easter or Christmas cards, prayer card or ways of arranging a fundraiser at their school or local parish. We often get a Q&A session at the end.
- Similarly, the children are also welcome to come and visit the St Vincent's Newcastle Centre with their teacher to get an idea about what may be involved in volunteering here.
