Mini Vinnies gives 7 – 11 year olds the chance to be part of the St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Society England and Wales. The SVP is an organisation dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms. Mini Vinnies meet to pray, discuss and support however they can to help make a difference in their community.
Our Mini Vinnies group meet every Wednesday in school.
Find out more by visiting the St Vincent de Paul Society website below.
https://www.svp.org.uk/mini-vinnies
Mini Vinnies Harvest Crafts
The Mini Vinnies and the SVP visited a local care home to make harvest crafts with the residents. This brightens spirits and creates a real sense of family between our oldest and youngest communities.
Mini Vinnies Collect for the Key Project
Mini Vinnies organised the collection of non-perishable foods on behalf of St James for the Key Project. The Key Project collected all of the donations from St James this morning and were truly overwhelmed by the generosity of our families. We want to say a special thank you to our Mini Vinnie Albie, who collected over £100 from his family. Albie then went to the shops to buy items on the list. Thank you to everyone who donated and special thanks to Albie’s family. Further information about the project can be found at https://keycommunity.org.uk/
Mini Vinnies Inauguration Ceremony
The SVP family came to witness the Mini Vinnies Inauguration Ceremony. The children led a short Celebration of the Word which ended with a concluding prayer from Deacon Peter. We wish the children well in their mission to ‘see – act – do’. Our MINI Vinnies really do make a HUGE difference!
Ice-pop sale to help towards CAFODs aid relief in Sudan
The Mini Vinnies held an ice-pop sale in school and raised £112!
Pizza Party
The Mini Vinnies visited The Branches Care Home in Jarrow
On Wednesday 15th May, Mini Vinnies visited The Branches Care Home in Jarrow to take part in art and craft activities and enjoyed some light refreshments with the residents. This was such a lovely visit, the children always bring such joy to the residents. Well done to everyone for your kindness, wonderful behavior and manners during our visit.
Autumn 2023 – The Mini Vinnies enjoyed their inauguration celebration with members of St James’and St Aloysius’ SVP and Father Simon.
The Mini Vinnies worked with the residents at Bedewell Grange to make Remembrance Day crafts. It was such a special occasion watching the different generations enjoy each other’s company. A fabulous time was had by all.
Mini Vinnie’s commissioning ceremony with members of the SVP.
Shoe Box Appeal for the Elderly
We were overwhelmed by the response to the Shoe Box for the Elderly appeal and would like to thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Receiving a Christmas shoe box brings so much joy to those who don’t normally receive any gifts or are struggling financially. It shows our older generation that they live in a community who care, especially for those who are lonely,
isolated, or just not able to get out and about.
The boxes were packed by our Mini Vinnies and will be delivered by ACTS staff and volunteers to older people around South Tyneside. Before delivery a Christmas card is added to the box and a list of emergency contacts, sources of support and other helpful information are included.
Rest assured our fantastic St James community have given a smile to many at Christmastime!
We say good-bye this week to our president and thank her for her dedication to Mini Vinnies. We wish her well at her new school.
Warm Spaces in South Tyneside
The Mini Vinnies are worried that people in our community might be cold this winter and would like to let you know about free warm spaces in South Tyneside. Have a look at our poster and click on the link below for more information. warmspaces@southtyneside.gov.uk
Happy at Home
The Mini Vinnies have been finding out about a local project called Happy at Home. This is a project which supports the elderly and lonely in South Tyneside. If you would like information about this project then click on the link. http://happyathomesouthtyneside.co.uk/
Cost of Living Crisis
The Mini Vinnies have been writing to their local MP Kate Osborne to ask how local government is supporting those in need during the cost of living crisis.
Helping the people of Turkey and Syria
Mini Vinnies and Faith in Action organised a brilliant cake sale for the Turkey and Syrian earthquake appeal. They raised £415 for CAFOD with their incredible efforts. Thanks to all of those who supported them!
The Mini Vinnies put smiles on the faces of the St James’ parishioners with their Lenten crosses.
The Mini Vinnies wanted to spread the Lenten message with this clever activity. Choose an activity each day and colour in the related images if you have achieved it.
You should have received a copy from your class teacher.
Visit to St Matthew Church – Happy at Home
We visited St Matthews Church Hall to spend time with the Happy at Home Community. Happy at Home is an organisation who supports the elderly and lonely in South Tyneside and helps to improve the lives of older people with compassion and kindness. Our elderly friends very much enjoyed the company of our children who represented St James with wonderful manners, patience, consideration and respect.
