Over this season of Lent, we have created 31,380 minutes of silence and a staggering £3,500 and counting. Individuals, parishes, schools, and youth groups joined with thousands of others, to speak up for young people who are often overlooked and silenced in today’s world. The money they raised will help to transform young people’s lives across the country including young people like Tom, Shanea, and Carl.
Over the course of the last three months, we have been inspired by the digital content that has been produced by our participants, whether that has been tweets, pictures, videos, prayers, or reflections. They have allowed us to raise awareness of our work and show solidarity with generation Z at this time of need.
Thank you especially to:
· The Catholic Parish of the Durham Martyrs – Diocese of Durham
· St John the Baptist School – Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
· Brentwood Youth Service – Diocese of Brentwood
· Holy Family Catholic School, Walthamstow – Diocese of Brentwood
· Phoenix Youth Group – Diocese of Birmingham
· The Columbans UK – Diocese of Birmingham
· St John Vianney RC School – Diocese of Salford
· Young Christian Workers – Diocese of Salford
· St Hilda’s Catholic Chaplaincy – Archdiocese of Southwark
· Institute of our Lady of Mercy – Diocese of Leeds
Some of our favourite content includes:
Sr Margaret’s Lenten Thanksgiving Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzVWge164VQ
St John Tamworth’s TikTok video: https://www.tiktok.com/@stjohnscctamworth/video/6941102984864599301?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v3
Daisy Srblin, Director of Million Minutes says “In my first year at Million Minutes I have been so inspired by our participants’ time, energy, and creativity during this time. Their efforts give us all hope, as we head into the spring and we return to a different type of “normal”. Across the country, we’ve seen young people, students, teachers, parish priests, youth workers, chaplains, parents and many more, from across England and Wales, staying silent in solidarity with young people, and raising money for youth-led grants.
Our collaboration with Brentwood Youth Services particularly stands out for me, with Joseph Beattie and the team organising 40 days of Instagram content over on BCYS’s social media pages. It was also a pleasure to use our platforms together to contribute to Radio Maria. As we look to the spring and summer 2021, I am excited to continue our good work.”
Funds raised in SiLENT go straight into our grants scheme, which is open on a rolling basis, for a genuinely youth-led social action grant. We support young people as they change their world inspired by our Catholic social teaching principles. For more information, see: millionminutes.org/grants