Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP)

Contact: Ciaran Ward 07540 842078 svp@saintlaurence.org.uk

The SVP in our Parish and others in the UK and worldwide, endeavours to assist the poor, sick, lonely, and people in any form of need, mainly by visiting, or helping in an emergency to provide furniture etc. Occasional financial help is given if essential services are likely to be cut off.

The SVP group meets fortnightly (currently via Zoom) and welcomes new members. If you are in need or considering joining the SVP please : speak to an SVP member, or a priest, contact the parish office or email us at svp@saintlaurence.org.uk

Work in our parish

If you or someone you know needs help, please do contact the SVP to see if we can help. We can help with befriending (including phone calls), support with some tasks (e.g. shopping, small household jobs) or help with short-term financial problems (e.g. through donations or help to apply for benefits). One to one support is the basis of all the help we offer and we help people of all faiths and none.

Coffee Hub − every Saturday at 10am

Parishioners run the Coffee Hub after Mass every Saturday from 10am to 12am. An SVP member is present for the first hour (10am to 11am) for anyone who needs help. This is a drop in service, and anyone can come on by and have a nice chat over a coffee!

Giving Tree − Christmas 2024

The SVP is organising the parish Christmas Giving Tree.

We ask you to pick a gift from the online wish list HERE, or take a tag from the Giving Tree display in the narthex, or donate a hamper item of your choice.

The gifts and hamper items you donate will be distributed to:

• Homeless people via Wintercomfort and local hostels − gifts requested are £10 supermarket vouchers.
• Elderly people via Meals on Wheels service − gifts requested are luxury food items eg: jams, biscuits, chocolate, some diabetic items, some luxury healthy items too.
• Children, families and parishioners known to the SVP within East Anglia − a gift for each child is requested.

All gifts and hamper items should be returned to church by 1pm on Sunday 15th December at the latest.

Thank you for your ongoing support for the SVP and the work we do. 

Overseas help

The SVP in England and Wales supports SVP groups in certain countries overseas. Our conference supports three groups in India through prayer, communication and an annual donation. In addition from time to time we fundraise to offer funds for student education in India and to support the work of the SVP in Sudan and South Sudan.

NB: In some other countries, the SVP is known as “SSVP”, so you’ll sometimes see that abbreviation also used in the context of overseas appeals.

Update on Sudan and South Sudan

Because of the military coup in Sudan and the resultant social protest, there has been widespread civil violence and tragic loss of life. The prevailing situation has led to curtailment of internet services and breakdowns in communication. As a result, there has been a loss of direct links between SVP (England and Wales) and SSVP representatives in Sudan (Khartoum).

UK charity law does not permit appeals for donations where payment to the beneficiaries cannot be verified and expenditure for purpose confirmed. For this reason we are not currently fundraising for SVP Sudan but continue to fundraise for SVP South Sudan(Juba), where direct links with SVP are still intact.

Making a donation

If you would like to make a donation to the SVP, we are able to receive electronic bank transfers.

Account number:	46077618
Sort code:	60-60-04
Account name:	E060102 ST LAURENCE

Banks are now introducing confirmation of account name. The SVP’s bank account name noted above may be too long for your bank; if so, please enter the name from the start and enter as much as you can. Please note that they are zeros in the name.

Gift aid: if you are willing to gift-aid your donation, please email svp@saintlaurence.org.uk and we will send you a relevant declaration form. If you are a UK tax payer, a gift-aided donation will allow the SVP to claim an additional 25% of your donated gift.

Every gift, of whatever value, will help support the SVP’s work both in East Anglia and abroad.

Thank you for your ongoing support and your prayers for our work.