Mini Vinnies
The St. Vincent de Paul Society in the Leeds Diocese offers MINI VINNIES as part of their support for communities designed for 7-11 year boys and girls in primary schools.
Mini Vinnies is an exciting, very well supported format upon which our school can base all of the work that we already do in support of the poor and the marginalised in our communities both here at home and overseas.
Our Mini Vinnies are pupils from KS2 and they meet regularly to pray and decide on activities they wish to undertake as part of their role in helping others.
We believe strongly in enhancing the Catholic Life of our school and at our meetings we think of ways to:
- To involve pupils in fundraising for charities.
- To continue to develop strong links with the Parish.
- To support the school in its Mission Statement and values
Our Mini Vinnies Faith in Action group, led by Mrs Caunce and Mrs Richardson have undertaken lots of works of mercy, contributing to our society and making a difference to those around them. Examples of their works include choosing CAFOD World Gifts from our PTA Water Bottle Fundraiser; visiting the St Vincent’s Centre in Leeds with food parcels during Harvest, leading our Children in Need fundraising day and they shared gifts with those less firtunate through our reverse-Advent Calendar; they also joined the Garforth Peace Walk and created peace lanterns with children in school.
The children have recently collaborated with other Mini Vinnies from across our Trust to create a BKCAT Children's Prayer using the themes of this year's Jubilee as the focus.
In September, our new Mini Vinnies for 2024-25 travelled to Leeds Cathedral for a very special Mass with Bishop Marcus.
During the Mass the children were commissioned into their role as Mini Vinnies and called to service by the Bishop. The children received a special commeratvie badge and sang the Mini Vinnies hymn before having a photograph with Bishop Marcus himself. it was a privilege to witness 2 of our pupils serve at the Mass too and they made us very proud with their reverance and prayerfulness.
