Bath Youth Feature in SVP DVD
30 November 2008
In 1999, in order to mark the advent of the new Millennium, the St Vincent de Paul Society launched Youth SVP, its youth development programme. Now ten years on, Youth SVP is well established as the largest youth organisation in the Catholic Church of England and Wales and a new DVD featuring young people Our Lady and St Alphege in Bath, has been produced to mark Youth SVP’s 10th anniversary.
With seeds sown for the future of the SVP, Paul Lever, who has been the programme’s National Manager since the beginning now feels the time is right to move on and allow somebody with fresh ideas to continue the progress made.
In March 1999, the first Youth SVP group registered at All Saints College, York. Since then, a staggering 12,000 teenagers have registered as members of a Youth SVP group and interest today is as great as ever. Some 200 Catholic Secondary Schools and 60 parishes have been involved in the programme.
Founded originally by Frederic Ozanam and a group of French students at the University of Paris, it is fitting that SVP has sought to involve young people again in voluntary work in the local community while retaining its Vincentian spiritual ethos. Youth SVP groups take ownership of their activities and meet regularly with their group adviser for prayer, planning and discussion. There are excellent resources available and all Youth SVP members receive annual certificates which affirm them in the work they do.
The new DVD reflects current diversity of Youth SVP members and gives a snap shot of the work undertaken. There are four main areas of work featured – working with children, supporting homeless people, visiting older people and helping people with learning difficulties.
As well as the Bath parishioners Camp Vincent, the annual four day residential event exclusively for Youth SVP members, also features on the DVD. Highly regarded as one of the most engaging Christian youth gatherings in England, the DVD shows young people learning more about the Vincentian story within a relaxed, fun-packed atmosphere.
For more information about the new DVD or how to start a new Youth SVP group, please contact Jessica Bray on 0207 407 4644.
Meanwhile the SVP is searching for a replacement for Paul Lever. Paul who has been the National Manager of Youth SVP since the beginning is leaving at the end of the year to take up a new position as lay chaplain of Chester Catholic High School. Over the last 10 years he has managed to travel from his home on Merseyside to over half the Catholic High Schools in England and Wales to talk to staff and students about the benefits of Youth SVP.
Paul said, “I am obviously proud of what has been achieved in the last ten years but believe the time is right for me to take up a new challenge and allow someone with fresh ideas to continue the work.”
“I have always believed that one of the main aims of Youth SVP is to contribute to the whole development of the young people involved in the work. The feedback I have received over the last ten years from the young people themselves has been incredibly heartening and I shall particularly miss them at Camp Vincent although I am looking forward to taking students along from my new school in Chester! I would also like to pay tribute to my diocesan youth officers and youth leaders who have supported me throughout.”
Youth leader Peter Reed said, “Paul has been the inspiration behind Youth SVP for the past 10 years. Through his leadership over 10,000 young people have benefited from the experience and joy of being members. He has toured the country and dedicated his time to the young people. His tremendous work in organising the annual Camp Vincent has been appreciated by the youngsters and the group of leaders he has assembled.
”It could be said that he is irreplaceable, but let us hope and pray that someone can be found with the same enthusiasm and drive as Paul to build on the very firm foundation he has laid.”
In 1999, in order to mark the advent of the new Millennium, the St Vincent de Paul Society launched Youth SVP, its youth development programme. Now ten years on, Youth SVP is well established as the largest youth organisation in the Catholic Church of England and Wales and a new DVD featuring young people Our Lady and St Alphege in Bath, has been produced to mark Youth SVP’s 10th anniversary.
With seeds sown for the future of the SVP, Paul Lever, who has been the programme’s National Manager since the beginning now feels the time is right to move on and allow somebody with fresh ideas to continue the progress made.
In March 1999, the first Youth SVP group registered at All Saints College, York. Since then, a staggering 12,000 teenagers have registered as members of a Youth SVP group and interest today is as great as ever. Some 200 Catholic Secondary Schools and 60 parishes have been involved in the programme.
Founded originally by Frederic Ozanam and a group of French students at the University of Paris, it is fitting that SVP has sought to involve young people again in voluntary work in the local community while retaining its Vincentian spiritual ethos. Youth SVP groups take ownership of their activities and meet regularly with their group adviser for prayer, planning and discussion. There are excellent resources available and all Youth SVP members receive annual certificates which affirm them in the work they do.
The new DVD reflects current diversity of Youth SVP members and gives a snap shot of the work undertaken. There are four main areas of work featured – working with children, supporting homeless people, visiting older people and helping people with learning difficulties.
As well as the Bath parishioners Camp Vincent, the annual four day residential event exclusively for Youth SVP members, also features on the DVD. Highly regarded as one of the most engaging Christian youth gatherings in England, the DVD shows young people learning more about the Vincentian story within a relaxed, fun-packed atmosphere.
For more information about the new DVD or how to start a new Youth SVP group, please contact Jessica Bray on 0207 407 4644.
Meanwhile the SVP is searching for a replacement for Paul Lever. Paul who has been the National Manager of Youth SVP since the beginning is leaving at the end of the year to take up a new position as lay chaplain of Chester Catholic High School. Over the last 10 years he has managed to travel from his home on Merseyside to over half the Catholic High Schools in England and Wales to talk to staff and students about the benefits of Youth SVP.
Paul said, “I am obviously proud of what has been achieved in the last ten years but believe the time is right for me to take up a new challenge and allow someone with fresh ideas to continue the work.”
“I have always believed that one of the main aims of Youth SVP is to contribute to the whole development of the young people involved in the work. The feedback I have received over the last ten years from the young people themselves has been incredibly heartening and I shall particularly miss them at Camp Vincent although I am looking forward to taking students along from my new school in Chester! I would also like to pay tribute to my diocesan youth officers and youth leaders who have supported me throughout.”
Youth leader Peter Reed said, “Paul has been the inspiration behind Youth SVP for the past 10 years. Through his leadership over 10,000 young people have benefited from the experience and joy of being members. He has toured the country and dedicated his time to the young people. His tremendous work in organising the annual Camp Vincent has been appreciated by the youngsters and the group of leaders he has assembled.
”It could be said that he is irreplaceable, but let us hope and pray that someone can be found with the same enthusiasm and drive as Paul to build on the very firm foundation he has laid.”
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