Scottish Catholic Observer

The St Ninian’s pupils (above) welcomed SSVP youth officer Clare Carr to their school as they set up their own branch of the Mini Vinnies, a programme for P4-P7 children that encourages charitable efforts and the following of St Vincent De Paul’s example.

Rachel Ford, a teacher at the school, said the Mini Vinnie launch involved the children sharing some information about themselves, ‘to allow for the group to begin to gel in a friendly and informal atmosphere.’

The pupils began with a prayer, before they discussed the work of other Mini Vinnie groups—visiting hospitals and collecting donations for food banks—before the children left the meeting with the task of coming up with ideas on how to help people in the community.

Ms Ford said the children ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ working with other children they wouldn’t normally get the chance to.

“Personally I was really touched by how eager our children are to make a difference and the belief that they have in themselves and the ability that they have to make a difference to others, even just by spending some time talking to someone or sharing something they have with them,” she added.

Jim McKendrick, national president of the SSVP Scotland, said he was delighted to welcome St Ninian’s into the Mini Vinnies.

“It is great for them to have, from an early age, an opportunity to help others less fortunate than themselves,” he said. “Mini Vinnies have developed slowly but steadily in Scotland over the last two years and now carry out a variety of activities to help those in need; from organising food parcels, carol singing at sheltered housing, Litter Picking Rotas for the school playgrounds, fundraising for good causes, collecting donations for food banks, helping with the Christmas Appeals and by collecting toys for children.

“They have such energy and enthusiasm and will seek to change the world before the morning break.”

Mini Vinnie groups started in Australia before spreading to England and then north of the border. There are 18 schools in Scotland who currently have Mini Vinnie groups, including some in Dundee, Glasgow and Clydebank.

The Mini-Vinnie group at St Francis Xavier’s in Falkirk—made up of 20 pupils from P5-P7—recently raised £160 for Syrian refugees. Roisin King, a teacher who runs the group at the school, said the children take the initiative with the programme and said it was good to see it growing and younger kids asking to get involved.

—[email protected]

—This story ran in full in the Novermber 6 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.