SVP

What is the SVP?

The St Vincent de Paul Society (or as it is often known - the SVP) is an international Catholic voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty by providing practical assistance to those in need – irrespective of faith, age or gender. The Society is a lay organisation initially formed in Paris in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam and active in England & Wales since 1844. It was inspired by St Vincent de Paul, a 17th century priest in Paris, famed for his works with the poor.

The Tyne SVP has a caravan in Northumberland to which we have sent Darlington families for a week’s holiday in recent years. Also there is the SVP children’s Summer Camp on Holy Island where some of our Parishioners volunteer and children have been supported to attend. We donate £150 a year each to 2 ‘Twinned’ Conferences , they are in Southern India where the local SVP members use the money for support of the poor in their area. Each Christmas we distribute small gifts, monies and food parcels to a number of people throughout Darlington.

There is a National Website svp.org.uk.

The concept of need is broader than financial hardship, so visiting the sick, the lonely, the imprisoned also form a large proportion of the Society's work. The Society operates in small groups called "Conferences", which are usually based in local parishes. These are then linked at local level in Districts and a Diocesan level as a Central Council through to the National and International Organisations.

St Augustine’s Conference has 16 members, who raise funds through the year by Church collections, donations and other fund raising activities. Over a year we usually raise in the order of £10,000.  We visit and bring Holy Communion to people in a number of local Care Homes, people in their own homes and those in hospital. Locally over the last year we have assisted families with debt problems and individuals in need. We support the Food Bank at King’s Church and run their outpost at St Columba’s Church on Clifton Road.

‘Sunday Stop’ is an SVP initiative providing a free meal on the first Sunday of the month in St Augustine’s PC, 40 to 50 people attend and a large number of Parishioners volunteer to provide the food. We support the Catholic Chaplaincy at Deerbolt Prison, Barnard Castle by regularly attending Mass there to meet the lads. We have purchased religious items, prayer cards and rosaries. Also we have donated chocolates at Christmas and Easter.

There is a ‘Mini Vinnie’ Conference at St Augustine’s school and a Youth SVP group at Carmel College. This brings the children into the Society in a special way in which they can contribute by raising funds and being active in making gifts and visiting in conjunction with the Adult Conferences. We would welcome new members to help in any way possible in furthering our basic principles of providing practical help to those in need based on the Christian principles of faith, hope and charity. Please leave your contact details with Debbie in the Parish Office and we will make contact. Thank you to the Parishioners for supporting the work of the SVP with your kind generosity over the years.