Parish Social Action

We aim to make social action as easy as possible for parishes in the Diocese of Westminster. Our hubs are there to help you to run projects which meet the needs of your community.

Check out our social action map to see all the projects running across the diocese.

Each of our hubs is run by a member of the development team. They can help you to set up social action initiatives, or if you already run a project, help with sustainability, volunteer recruitment, and other aspects of project management.

North London Hub

Our North London Hub was launched in March 2015. This hub is Caritas Westminster's base in Barnet, Camden, Enfield and Haringey Deaneries.

Sue Day is our development worker in North London, where she works with parishes, local organisations and Caritas St Joseph's on various projects related to intellectual disabilities, homelessness, and older people.

Intellectual Disabilities Outreach

Sue leads on intellectual disabilities outreach for Caritas Westminster. She works with parishes and individuals, providing sacramental preparation and training for catechists.

Sue also works with Saturday Clubs in North London, which provide support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families and friends. The clubs are based in Finchley Church End, New Southgate, Whetstone and Enfield parishes.

As part of her outreach, Sue holds a book club at Caritas St Joseph’s every Wednesday.

Homelessness

Sue supports various projects which work with homeless people, including Emmaus Barnet and Together in Barnet Night Shelter.

Contact the Elderly

In partnership with the parish of Mary Immaculate & St Gregory the Great, Barnet, Sue has helped to set up a new Contact the Elderly group. The groups provide older isolated people with friendship and company.

Get in touch!

To find out more about Sue’s work and our North London Hub, please contact Sue.

East London Hub

Lauched in January 2015, our East London Hub is our base in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Marylebone and Islington Deaneries.

A nna Gavurin is our development worker in East London, where she is busy liaising with parish social action projects on how to improve service delivery and establish best practice.

Anna is also helping to establish new groups, including young adults groups, befriending services and foodbanks. She is also involved in helping run the Love in Action programme in parishes and schools.

Schools and youth groups

On behalf of Caritas Westminster, Anna works with a number of schools and youth groups in the Diocese to raise awareness of social action and to encourage young people to take a more active role.

Get in touch!

To find out more about Anna’s work and our East London hub, please contact Anna.

Hertfordshire Hub

Our very first Caritas Westminster hub was launched in Hertfordshire in February 2015, with Liz Wills joining in May 2017 as the development worker for the Stevenage Deanery.

Get in touch!

To find out more about our Hertfordshire hub, please contact Liz

Central London Hub

Our Central London Hub is Caritas Westminster's base in Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and North Kensington Deaneries.

Finola Ryan is our development worker in Central London, where she is working on a variety of projects related to homelessness and intellectual disability.

Homelessness Projects

Finola is Caritas Westminster's lead on issues relating to housing and homelessness. She supports the West London Day Centre's Westminster Winter Night Shelter, which is running from October 2016 until May 2017.

Finola has also helped to set up the new charity Help for Southall Street Homeless (HSSH), which provides assistance to homeless people who cannot access state support and housing. HSSH is currently trying to raise funds in order to carry out its mission. Please contact Finola if you would like to help.

Intellectual Disabilities Outreach

Finola also works with individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing sacramental preparation and training for catechists. Along with Caritas St Joseph's, we have recently published Symbols of Faith, a new resource for the faith formation and sacramental preparation of people with intellectual disabilities. Click here to find out more and to order your copy.

Human Trafficking

Alongside her work as Central London development worker, Finola works as a locum for Caritas Bakhita House.

Get in touch!

To find out more about Finola's work and our Central London Hub, please contact Finola.

South West London Hub

The South West London hub was established in January 2017, for Hounslow, Hillingdon and Upper Thames deaneries.

Isaac Welde is the current development worker for South West London, including St Mary's University.

St Mary's University

The St Mary’s University post is designed to develop outreach opportunities for students (and staff), in order to add extra value to their curricular activities, and help them develop new skills whilst being of service in their local communities.

Parishes

Isaac also covers parishes in the Hounslow, Hillingdon and Upper Thames deaneries, helping them to identify needs in the local community that volunteers from the parish might be able to address.

This hub is still in early stages of development, and this space will be updated as new projects are publicised.

Get in touch!

To find out more about Isaac's work and our South West London Hub, please contact Isaac.

West London Hub

Sr Silvana Dallanegra started as the development worker for West London in March 2017. She is covering the deaneries of Brent, Ealing and Harrow.

Sr Silvana will be based in Pinner, and as well as her work with parishes, she will be working with Friends for Friends, based in the parish.

Get in touch!

To find out more about Sr Silvana's work and our West London hub, please contact Sr Silvana.