Mini Vinnies
The Mini Vinnie Mission:
https://svp.org.uk/mini-vinnies
‘The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.’ SVP Society.
The Mini Vinnie Pledge
As a member of Mini Vinnies, I promise to make a difference in my world by:
• Caring for, respecting and loving myself;
• Strengthening my friendship with Jesus by praying each day and talking to others about him;
• Caring for others in my school and community by being a friend to those who are alone, in need or in trouble;
• Contributing to the happiness of my family through my help, respect, consideration, joy and kindness;
• Caring for, appreciating and enjoying God’s creation: the environment;
• Treating others the way I would like them to treat me
Mini Vinnies and Catholic Social Teaching
Although Mini Vinnies carry out each principle, as Mini Vinnies we particularly focus on the following principles:
Mini Vinnie Plans
We are working towards the CAFOD Live Simply Award: Live Simply Action Plan
Our Autumn term Action Plan: Mini Vinnie Action Plan 2025 Autumn Term
Our Spring Term Action Plan: Mini Vinnie Action Plan 2026 Spring Term
Mini Vinnies in Action:
New: Spring term! Visits to the SVP Centre on York Road, Leeds to assist in the ‘Vinnie’s Pantry’ making food parcels!
Coming soon!
New: Recruitment of new Mini Vinnie Members in March 2026!
Our Fairtrade Fortnight
After learning about why Fairtrade is important, we have been using Fairtrade products to bake banana bread and ‘Fifteens’. Delicious! The whole school got involved!
Christmas Carols at Mulgrave House Nursing Home
Reverse Advent Calendar 2025
Mini Vinnies have been running the school Reverse Advent Calendar. 299 items were collected in total! A big ‘Thank You’ to all who contributed.
Carols at the SVP Coffee Morning at Rothwell St Mary’s Church
Mini Vinnies, with a few extra helpers, led Carols in the Parish Hall after Mass. Mila gave everyone a rendition ‘Jingle Bells’ on the piano too! Their cheerful spirit and Christmas tunes helped the SVP collect double their usual amount! The SVP members sent a ‘Thank you’ message to the children.
Carol Singing at Blackburn Hall
Mini Vinnies and School Council teamed up to sing Christmas Carols to the local community.
First Week of Advent Celebration
Mini Vinnies worked Miss Leonard, Fr. Michael and Faith Leaders to lead a truly beautiful, holy and reverent beginning to Advent.
Christmas Cards
Mini Vinnies have enjoyed joining with School Council to make Christmas cards for local residents and parishioners at Rothwell St Mary’s Church. We will definitely collaborate more in the future – watch this space!
Harvest Festival 2025
The hard work of Mini Vinnies and the generosity of our school family, led to a whopping 900 items being collected and donated to the SVP Center on York Road! A fantastic effort from everyone!
St Vincent de Paul Day September 2025, followed by ‘Tea with the SVP’
Mini Vinnies led a Celebration of the Word inspired by the works of St Vincent de Paul to help the poor and informed us more about his life. We invited members of the local SVP group along too, and followed it with tea, coffee, juice, biscuits and cakes while we chatted about what Mini Vinnies do, and what the SVP do. Miss Leonard awarded the Mini Vinnies’ hard work with her special Head Teacher’s Award too!
World Peace Day – September 2025
Mini Vinnies led a thoughtful Celebration of the Word centred around World Peace Day.
Setting up a Food Bank drop-off point at School
We will keep the list updated with the food items and products desperately needed by the SVP Centre. Please look out for this and contribute if you can.
Visiting the Leeds York Road SVP Centre
St Mary’s Mini Vinnies visited the SVP Centre in Leeds to learn about how they help people in our community. We took food donations that we had gather ourselves, and it inspired us to provide more for a second visit a week later. We were humbled by the number of people and families in need, and how low ‘Vinnie’s Pantry’ stocks were. It has inspired us to set up our own Food Bank drop-off point at school.
We also spent time preparing food parcels for emergency food packages that were requested while we were there. We put lots of thought and care and love into those parcels and hope they help those who needed them.