r St Mary Queen of Martyrs Voluntary Catholic Academy | Mini Vinnies
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Mini Vinnies

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has been engaging with young people and education since its earliest days. Today the SVP England & Wales is pleased to highlight its continuing strong links with young people, through the development of its new 'Mini Vinnies' programme - a ground-breaking Primary Schools initiative, based on good work done in Australia, piloted in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, and which is seen as having, "the potential to significantly contribute to the future of our Society."


'Mini Vinnies' are children aged between 7 to 11 (or younger) 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 students 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'.

Mini Vinnies are co-ordinated by one of our Chaplaincy Team.

Our Mini Vinnies are selected from our outgoing Junior Chaplaincy Team. These children work incredibly hard to promote the work of St Vincent de Paul by helping to promote the charitable activities of our school, always remembering that their role is to ‘put concern into action’. Their activities include:

  • promoting Harvest collections
  • selling poppies during November
  • hat stuffing in aid of the ‘Apostleship of the Sea’
  • Christmas box packing in support of ‘Operation Christmas Child
  • supporting classes in their Advent & Lenten fundraising activities in aid of CAFOD & Mission Together

They too share in a special Reflection/Formation Day, designed to help them understand the origins of their work and to encourage future charitable endeavours, including our new project working with the homeless charity ‘Emmaus’.

We are always keen to identify new projects and welcome any suggestions as to how we can serve our parish community better - you know where we are if you need us.