Caritas Ambassadors Statement

The Caritas Ambassadors are a selection of students who are witnesses to God’s faith by putting prayers into action and supporting those who are less fortunate than themselves.

The team are comprised of children in Year 5 and 6 and are led by Miss Sowerby. At the start of the year the team decide on what charities they are going to support and what areas of the Catholic Social Teaching needs our attention. Together they create an action plan for that year that will raise money and awareness and encourage others into action themselves.

This is what Bishop John Arnold said to our Caritas Ambassadors about the essential work they do.

It has always been at the very foundation of our Christian Faith that we not only profess our faith and belief in the love of God but that we express that Faith in an active care and love for our neighbour.  If we claim to believe in the Gospel and ignore the plight and suffering of others around us then we have made our Faith an empty and useless vessel.

As Caritas Ambassadors you have made a very generous commitment to put your Faith into practical action; caring for those in need and fighting the disease of poverty that so threatens the well-being of our society and our world.  You have recognised the innate dignity of every person and are showing the way to others how we respond to people’s needs.  Thank you for what you are doing and for the sign and the witness that you give.

There are tough challenges ahead but there are always the opportunities to bring the love of God the others through our actions The Caritas Ambassadors are showing us all, by example, how we can make our world a better place.

Our Caritas Ambassadors are made up of teams from children in Year 5 and 6.  We were formed in 2016, and were commissioned as ambassadors by Bishop John Arnold.  The 8 members from Year 6 formed the original Caritas Ambassadors team, and were involved in recruiting new members from Year 5 to continue the support we offer.  We are supported by Miss Sowerby, who is a teacher in our school.

• In October 2017 our Caritas Ambassadors from Year 6 were invited to attend the Caritas Market Hall event at St Anne’s in Crumpsall.  Whilst they were there they met a variety of charities who were all incredibly inspiring.  The Caritas Ambassadors were encouraged to select a Charity to work with.  Our ambassadors decided on St Mary’s Way, Caritas Family Project.
• Caritas Family Project is run by Karen and Lorraine and they provide support to families across the diocese who need support raising their family.  This may be developing their parenting skills or making links socially.  Some of the services they offer are parenting workshops, holiday clubs, CV developing skills, a Christmas Party and half term outings.  Money is needed to help run family days, support the Christmas party and to help pay for the coach on their annual family day out to Lytham.
• Over the year we have come to learn how important the Caritas Family Project is.  Through regular updates from Lorraine and Karen we could see just how many people our simple actions were helping.  It is important that we encourage our school family to do and not just give during the campaigns we run.  We want to continue helping as many people as possible.