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the society of

Saint Vincent de Paul

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. ML6

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Who Are We?

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is an international organisation of Catholic lay people, men and women, who practice Christianity by helping those in need on a person to person basis. The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) members make local groups known as SSVP conferences. The conferences are normally linked to a Catholic parish, although not all parishes have a SSVP conference.

The SSVP came to Scotland in 1845, only 12 years after the very first Conference was founded by Frederic Ozanam and his friends in Paris. The first local Conference was established in St Margaret’s Airdrie in1854. Please clink on ‘Conferences’ at the top of the page for details of your local conference.

As a faith driven organisation, we serve those in need regardless of creed, ethnicity, social background, health, gender or political opinions. The Society cooperates and works with many other organisations, religious and secular to achieve its aims. It is ecumenical.

WHAT WE
DO

We serve Christ by serving those in need with love, respect, hope and dignity helping people temporarily and encouraging them to take control of their lives.

We can help with material needs such as visiting the sick, housebound, bereaved and the lonely. Sometimes all it takes is a friendly face and listening ear to let people know they are not alone.

We can also help with material needs such as food, furniture and occasionally gas and electricity top-ups. Our Furniture Project also accept donations please click here for more details.

 

REGULAR MEETINGS

All meetings start with prayer and reflection.

Followed by discussion on all current issues being worked on by the conference, decided on action needed and whom to visit.

Closing prayer.

VISITS

Home – social or to ascertain help needed

Hospital/Hospice

Bereaved

Nursing Homes & Sheltered Housing

Schools: Establish and support Mini Vinnie and Youth Groups and liaise regularly with local school community who may identify families in need of help.

FINANCIAL AID

Conferences must ensure proper governance on all financial matters, including the levels of the limited financial assistance to those in need

FOOD AID

The Society is a referral organisation for food Banks ie Food Banks accept those families which we refer to them for help

A rota exists for each parish conference within the Airdrie Group to collect food donations from Morrisons Supermarket, which they then distribute within their parish communities

The Ozanam Centre located in the Saltmarket area of Glasgow is also included in this rota as is Airdrie Food Bank

NON-FOOD AID

One conference also receives donations from Aldi and all Aldi /central aisle donations are passed to either local schools, St Andrew’s Hospice, local families or other charities

OTHER CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS

Airdrie foodbank, Monklands Womens Aid, Airdrie Family support and Homeless Unit, The Simon Community, All local schools, Glasgow Ozanam Centre, St Andrews Hospice and all recipients of the outcomes from our activities such as:-

Christmas Jesse Tree Appeal – Toys
Winter Clothing Appeal – Hats, gloves, scarfs, socks
Personal Hygiene Appeal – Run by Mini Vinnie and Youth SSVP groups

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

With a view to strengthen and develop the links between Family, Church and School, the Society has encouraged the development of Mini Vinnie groups within primary schools plus Junior Vinnies (S1-S3) and Senior Vinnies (S4-S6) in High Schools.

Parish Conferences support these groups in the schools; however, the children are the ones who decide on projects e.g., visits to sheltered housing or fund raising events and distribution of said funds.

FAITH
IN ACTION

Members of the society, including all Vinnie groups, are answering the call their Catholic Faith asks of them by serving and praying for those in need of material and/or financial help, the vulnerable, the lonely, the troubled, the sick, the bereaved, other charities and organisations

AIRDRIE GROUP

SSVP – Airdrie Group (Comprising 8 Parishes)

The society was founded by Frederic Ozanam and friends in Paris way back in in 1833 and named after St Vincent de Paul who had a deserved reputation in France as a champion of those in need of help. The society came to Scotland and held the first meeting on 25th May 1845 in Edinburgh.

The first conference to be established in Scotland was at St. Margaret’s Airdrie and they held their first meeting on 30th July 1854.

The society is a Christian Faith driven organisation and members seek to serve those in need regardless of ethnicity, creed, gender or political opinions.

Members of the society make themselves available to work in parish conferences (group) only after fulfilling their family and work duties, they do not need to attend every meeting and it is entirely up to the member the amount of their time they spend on SSVP business.

If you wish to know more about the Society, click here to go to the national website.

SOCIETY STRUCTURE

Global Council – Based in Paris

National Council – Based in Glasgow

Diocesan Council – Based in Motherwell

Airdrie Group conference – Based in Airdrie

Individual Parish Conferences with Airdrie Deanery

Each Conference or Council has a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.

The society relies on the financial donations received from parishioners.