Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese has become the first school-based education provider in New South Wales to formalise a partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, building on years of collaboration to serve the vulnerable.
With 80 schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, CSPD students and staff are already enthusiastic supporters of the charity.
This includes volunteering with Vinnies Van, collecting donations for Winter and Christmas appeals, running Mini Vinnies groups for primary school students, busking to fundraise and participating in the Vinnies Return and Earn recycling program.
For CSPD, this agreement is about giving students meaningful opportunities to live their faith in action. Through the partnership, students will be supported to contribute their time and energy to support the Society NSW’s mission to serve people in need in our community.
“Through partnerships like this, our students gain more than knowledge, they gain perspective, empathy, and a real understanding of what it means to serve,” Liz Scully, CSPD’s executive general manager of communications and engagement, said.
“As a proud Mini Vinnies mum, I know first-hand what our students can learn from connecting with opportunities to serve through Vinnies. Formalising our partnership will also provide some really exciting opportunities for our schools to work together with Vinnies in new ways.”
Sam Crosby, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW executive director of membership, volunteers and early intervention, said: “We’re delighted to be strengthening our connection with Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, which will create further opportunities for schools to engage closely with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.
“Our shared values and commitment to Catholic Social Teaching makes this relationship with CSPD a strong fit to support the local community where our members supported over 11,500 people in the past year.”
FULL STORY
Western Sydney Catholic Schools and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW serving our communities (Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese)
