Sixth Form Homelessness Campaign Group

These 17 year olds from St Wilfrid's Catholic School in Crawley took part in a 'sleep out' in their town centre organised by the parish. Sharing dinner with the homeless people sleeping in the same area as them that night, they got talking. The connection and experience moved them and they decided to take their experience further.

Of their own volition they presented their ideas to the Head Teacher who gave his support to their proposed campaign. They used assemblies to raise awareness and went into classes to make cross-curricular links to many subjects. They got their message out by using notice boards and social media. Alongside their awareness raising they also started to fundraise for local charity Crawley Open House. They ran events within the school from cake sales to a sleep out on the last day of term before the Christmas Break. Everyone in the school community got involved in their campaign!

The Christmas liturgy was very emotional as the students linked with the realities of homeless people to the flight of the Holy Family. After the liturgy the students processed to a sleep out. The morning liturgies ended with the students speaking about the experience and why they were raising money and awareness.

What they said: “I believe their success is down to … the faith and prayers of the students “ - Claire Franke, Chaplain

Tom Morris and Emily Tierney

Tom, 21, and Emily, 24, have worked with disadvantaged young people in Coventry for several years. Volunteering their time, they ensure those they meet have a positive experience of community and Church. Many of the young people Tom and Emily work with are on the fringes of society, having suffered great challenges in their lives. Some of the young people have lost a parent, or have a parent in jail or on drugs. Some deal with bullying on a regular basis. Some are homeless or have faced abuse.

Tom and Emily have given their time to ensure the young people have good memories and know they are loved. They have raised money to buy them Christmas presents and to give them a Christmas break away in a castle and have helped young people to have a summer holiday.

But it’s Tom and Emily’s personal touch which is so important. They have spent time getting to know them, to show them they care. They have played games, cooked, and been there if they cannot sleep. They have shared their faith in a courageous way.

Tom and Emily have also worked in a shanty town in Brazil, supporting children and working to create a beautiful garden dedicated to Our Lady in the middle of the community, giving hope and a place of peace to those who seek refuge. Tom and Emily visited the poor in the shanty town, bringing food, sharing something of himself and getting to know those from a different culture and background.

What they said: “Tom is a young person who never stops giving and whose answer is always YES” – Maria Bracken, Andrew Robinson Young Peoples Trust

“Emily is a shining example of promoting solidarity and peace” - Christopher Pell, Emily’s colleague

Year 12 General Religious Studies Group, St Anselm’s College

These 17 and 18 year olds became increasingly concerned about the negative portrayal of asylum seekers in the UK after meeting a small group of asylum seekers in a school assembly. Moved by their stories, the group wanted to do something to help.

Taking the call of Pope Francis to ‘welcome the stranger at our door’ to heart, the group organised a festive meal at Christmas for 60 asylum seekers to share with members of the 6th Form. To make their guests feel at home they researched celebratory food from the Middle East and Africa (where most of the asylum seekers are from).

The group rallied the local community. Fellow students brough in gifts of staples such as toiletries, rice, spices and pulses so each guest took away a goody bag. Parents helped decorate the school hall. The school’s catering company were pursuaded to cook all the food free of the charge. And the local bus company donated a coach to pick up and drop off the guests!

Since then, some 6th Form students have volunteered with Asylum Link Liverpool to help asylum seekers learn English,  and others helped a successful asylum seeker find the funds for an interpreting course. Each idea seems to lead to another. After discussing the boredom many asylum seekers face, one of the group researched how much tickets to a local FA Cup game a few weeks away might be. Suddenly thirty cut price tickets were arranged for the game!

To ensure subsequent generations take up their mantle, the group developed a day based on asylum for every student in Year 7, 8 and 9.

What they said: “This has become a whole school effort, but what has happened has been driven by the boys” - Louise Baines, Teacher