St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)

The SVP is open to anyone but is organised in age groups. Members try to bring Christ’s love to those in need by spending a couple of hours a week responding to Christ’s instruction to Love Our Neighbour. The concept of need is broader than financial hardship, so visiting people who are sick, lonely, in prison, or suffering from addiction is also a significant proportion of our work.

As well as offering friendship and support, our members and volunteers give practical help such as food, clothes, furniture or financial help when this is needed. We also organise trips and social events; help with transport to Mass and other parish events, raise funds to send children to holiday camps; support homeless people, prisoners, ex-offenders and asylum seekers and generally respond to local need.

We have over 60 active Conferences (units of Adult SVP members) which are based in Parishes throughout the Diocese.

There are SVP Mini-Vinnies (7 to 11) in most of the Diocesan schools, where the children organise their own activities in support of the SVP.

The Young Adult SVP (18 to 33) is present in Durham University and the Youth SVP (11 to 18) in Carmel College, Darlington where there are over 100 members.

Within the SVP England & Wales our area is known as Tyne, we have a Central Council made up of representatives from throughout the Diocese which co-ordinates our work and support for members.

We work with other organisations within the Diocese and are active within the Vicariate for Caritas.

We are constantly looking for opportunities to expand our team of members. To join us please contact Neda Khosravani using her contacts details opposite.

In addition, the SVP have Special Works based in the Diocese where a mixture of Members and Employees of the SVP run facilities to support those in need.

We are active across Newcastle upon Tyne in three hostels supporting those on license from prison and the homeless. We run a support centre in the East End of Newcastle, St Vincent’s Support Centre.

St Vincent’s Support Centre provides services for people suffering from financial hardship and homelessness. The main client groups that we currently support include local residents facing social and economic deprivation, and the range of other issues that this often accompanies – substance misuse/addiction, poor mental and/or physical health, fuel poverty and food insecurity.

By welcoming all who turn to us with kindness, warmth and humanity, we aim to be a shelter in life’s storm.

Here we run Vinnies Drop-In every Tuesday, providing a free, nutritious, three course cooked lunch for local homeless people who need food and an opportunity to socialise. We have a Turkish barber, Serve, who volunteers his time and offers free haircuts to clients, and our local ward councillors hold their monthly surgeries at Vinnies. In addition, a new initiative we will be rolling out is free welfare advice to be offered to clients through a partnership with Northeast Law Centre. We also distribute emergency food parcels, clothing, and toiletries to those in need. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen a 300% increase in referrals from those struggling financially. So far this year we have supported over 4,000 individuals.

St Vincent’s is also home to a refugee and people seeking asylum project, Justice & Peace 3 days a week – currently they are supporting over 400 households with essential food & clothing.

To support our project and make a donation, please follow this link. Your generous donation allows us to continue our essential work.