Who Are The Mini Vinnies?

The St Mary’s Mini Vinnies group is for children in Year 5 & 6. Mini Vinnies meet to pray, discuss, support and help make a difference to our school, parish and wider community.

Mini Vinnies truly turn concern into action as they use the simple formula of ‘see, think, do’ to find people in need and help them.

Our group is part of the national Mini Vinnies organisation and we come together to form a part of the St. Vincent de Paul Society England and Wales, a voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms.

Mini Vinnie action plan Autumn 2025

In Autumn Term 2024, The Mini Vinnies:

• Applied to be Mini Vinnies for Year 5.

• Led Harvest Festival in church for the whole school.

• Wrote to the parents about our Advent alms giving.

• Presented to the school about our Advent appeal.

• Presented to the children about Advent. 

• Made Christmas cards for residents of the local old people’s home.

• Collected presents for refugee children.

• Arranged the collection of items for the Woolly Hat Campaign and packed the items into woolly hats. 

• Represented the school at Horsforth Remembrance Service.

• Organised and ran stalls at the Christmas fundraiser.

In Spring Term 2025, The Mini Vinnies:

• Led the Family Fast Day and served soup and a roll to KS2 children.

• Shared the Lent charity work with the whole school in Celebration of the Word.

• Led a Stations of the Cross Celebration of the Word.

• Launched stain glass window competition for the school for our Jubilee Year of Hope. 

• Launched Prayer Partners with our parish as part of our Jubilee Year of Hope. 

• Arranged the Easter Egg appeal for the SVP foodbank.

• Ran stalls at the Good Shepherd Fundraiser.

• Led whole school Mass.

In Summer Term 2025, The Mini Vinnies:

• Led the school in our Pentecost Picnic.

• Planned orienteering for the school linked to the Jubilee of Hope year. 

• Presented our Good Shepherd fundraising to the Bishop at Leeds Cathedral.

• Planned and led the Flowers for Mary workshop for the school.

• Launched Jubilee Garden of Hope competition and chose a lucky winner for their design to be brought to life. 

• Ran a rosary club for KS1 children during May.

• Took part in a litter pick in our school grounds. 

• Planned and led stalls for our summer fundraiser.

• Sold ice pops at Sports Day to raise money for school.