Big lent Walk - March 2026

To show our support for our international charity  - CAFOD, the Mini Vinnies team decided to take part in the Big Lent Walk. The team planned for the school to walk 5km around our local park to show solidarity with communities around the world who need to walk long distances for food or water. The team planned the event by creating posters to advertise the event and creating QR codes that enabled people to donate directly to a Just Giving page. They also helped lead an assembly with Steve Deadman from CAFOD to share what the charity does and how our fundraising could make a difference. This was linked to the Catholic Social Teaching pillar - Option for the Poor.

The school eventually raised an incredible £1950. This made us the 3rd biggest fundraising school in the country! Not bad for a 1 form entry Primary School!!!!!

"Rivers do not drink their own water, trees do not eat their fruit, the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. This illustrates that living for others is a fundamental rule of nature. We are all born to help each other, and life is good when you are happy, but it is much better when others are happy because of you." 

Pope Francis

 

Harvest Collection - October 2026

In October our Mini Vinnies team organised a wonderful Harvest Festival at which the school community made food donations to the Christchurch Foodbank. The children met with Tracy who also joined the school for our Harvest liturgy. We spoke about how Catholic Social Teaching asks us to think of those less fortunate than us (Option for the Poor) but also how we are asked to play our part in making our community a better place to live - Community and Participation. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously. Remember that the happiest people are those that make others happy!

"And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." 

Isaiah 58:10

Community Litter Pick - July 2026

In July the Mini Vinnies organised a Community Litter Pick linked to the Catholic Social Teaching pillar of 'Community and Participation'. The team decided that one way in which we could improve the area in which we live was by having an organised litter pick as we had noticed lots of rubbish being left around the Somerford estate. We approached the local council who kindly loaned us litter pickers and bags for the event. 

'No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.'

1 Corinthians  10:24

St Joseph's Day - March 2026

The Mini Vinnies team helped organise events for St Joseph's Day. This included asking the PTA for ice creams to make the day extra special and a sleeping Joseph statue for each classroom prayer table. The team also came up with the idea of every child creating their own set of 'Good Deed Beads' inspired by St Therese of Lisieux. These would be in St Josephs colours and would be used to encourage each of us to go about doing small acts of kindness with humility and without the expectation of reward as St Joseph did. It was suggested, by the team, that the older children help the younger ones to make their bead strings. The Mini Vinnies team taught each of the older classes how to make them. The children also helped prepare our St Joseph's Feast Day Mass by writing the prayers of intercession. 

Macmillan Caring Locally charity - April 2026

The Mini Vinnies team suggested that the school could help one of our mums with her fundraising efforts for the Macmillan Caring Locally charity after they helped Arthur, Stanley and Heidi's Grandad at the end of his life. In our meeting we came up with the wording for our newsletter page and found out what Macmillan do. We also created a QR code so people could donate directly on Mrs Blake's Just Giving page. We prayed for all those who care for people at the end of life. Good luck Mrs Blake! What a wonderful cause. 

 

Christmas cards for our neighbours - Dec 2025

Our Mini Vinnies team delivered hand made Christmas cards to our lovely neighbours this week. What a wonderful way to show others within our community about how much we think of them at such a special time of year. 

This is Community and Participation in action. Happy Christmas neighbours!

 

Samara's Dignity Bags for Syria - Feb 2022

The Year 6 Mini Vinnies helped Mrs Leonard and Mrs Wasmuth assemble three Dignity bags for Syrian children as part of The Samara's Aid Appeal.  A huge thank you to all children and staff of St Joseph's who raised the money for the bags, by dressing down on our 'Number Day'.  A very special thank you to Miss Fox, Mrs Walls and Mrs Dibden who bought all the items with your generous donations.