TURNING CONCERN INTO ACTION!
Mini Vinnies
We turn concern into action – We are inspired by Christ’s message to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Our Mission is to live out the Catholic Social Teaching - to seek and find those in need, to help them in a spirit of justice and to tackle the causes of poverty where we can.
The Mini Vinnies play a vital role in the Catholic Life and SMSC life of St. Patrick's Catholic Academy, putting what we learn through the Catholic Social Teaching and Virtue Education into practice and are supported by Mrs C Moulding, our Mini Vinnie Co-ordinator.
Pupils have the opportunity to serve the school as part of the ‘Mini Vinnies’, learning about Saint Vincent de Paul the Class Saint in Year 4 and choosing to be part of the Mini-Vinnies once they reach Year 5 and Year 6.
The Mini Vinnie Pledge
As a member of Mini Vinnies, I promise to make a difference to my world by:
Caring for, respecting and loving myself
Strengthening my friendship with Jesus by talking to him each day and talking to
others about him
Caring for others in my school and community by being a friend to those who are alone,
in need or in trouble
Making my family happy by my help, respect and showing kindness and consideration
Caring for and enjoying God’s world
Treating others, the way I would like them to treat me
The Mini Vinnie Prayer
Lord, thank you for our gifts and talents.
Lord, show us who needs our help.
Lord, use our hands to help those who are hungry.
Lord, open our hearts to love and comfort those who are sad and lonely.
Lord, let us share our time, gifts and talents with those in need.
Lord, help us to care for the sick.
Lord, may we all help and support each
other as Mini Vinnies to build a better world. Amen
The Mini Vinnie Song
OUR 2025/26 MISSIONS
Our Commissioning Ceremony
Our 2025/2026 Mini Vinnies were commissioned on Thursday 23rd October 2025 by Father Eamonn, during a lovely service at St Patrick's Catholic Academy, joined by the pupils family and friends.
Pop into Pats
Some of our Mini Vinnies attend the “Pop into Pat’s” lunch event on on a Monday each month to further enhance the links between school and the parish. They spend time talking to the people from the parish who attend the event – telling them about life at school, what they are enjoying at the moment and what they are looking forward to.
In our first visit of the new year in January, the Mini Vinnies led the special Epiphany Blessing "Chalking the Door" and explained why it is an important blessing that we do each year in January, for every class.
We will be continuing to link with the “Pop into Pat’s” parish group each month with a visit from different mini vinnies. It is a wonderful event and both the pupils from school and the parishioners enjoy the social time together.
Spring Visits to St Patrick’s Church over lunchtime “Pop into Pat’s”
Visit 1: Monday 12th January – Lead the Epiphany Blessing
Visit 2: Monday 9th February
Visit 3: Monday 16th March – invite to Holy Week Celebrations of the Words led by KS2 classes
Summer visits to St Patrick’s Church over lunchtime “Pop into Pat’s”
Visit 1: Monday 27th April –
Visit 2: Monday 18th May
Visit 3: Monday 15th June– invite to a Dress Rehearsal for the Y6 leavers Performance
The Christmas Shoebox Appeal
Our Mini Vinnies led on the “Christmas Shoebox” appeal this year – collecting wrapped shoe boxes with gifts in for someone in need. We are very proud to share that we have collected over 60 shoe boxes across the appeal this year, which will help the most vulnerable over the Christmas period.
Harvest Fundraising - Batley Food Bank Appeal
As part of our Autumn fundraising, the Mini Vinnies led on our harvest celebrations and appeal to help those in need. They collected a range of tins and dried food items for us to donate to support the most vulnerable in our wider community. We asked each child to bring in a food item before we closed for half term so that it could be donated to the Batley Food Bank to support our local community. For more information on how you can donate please look at their website: https://batleyfoodbank.org.uk/how-to-donate/
Virtues to live by...
The Mini Vinnies have had an important role in the development of our character education here at school, the implementation of "virtues to live by" - understanding how to be the very best versions of ourselves through how we behave.
We used the life of Saint Patrick as an inspiration for the main virtues and then thought about which other virtues we felt are in the same family. Below you will see a new piece off artwork that we have in our hall to inspire us to act like Saint Patrick and be the very best version of ourselves.
Helping the community during the Coronavirus pandemic
During the lockdown and school closure our pupils have been writing letters to the residents of the local residential home in Birstall. They were emailed to our Headteacher and sent to the home on a Friday morning. We hoped that by sending the residents a letter every Friday
we would bring a smile to their faces and show them that we are all thinking about them. We recognise that it must be hard to not have your family around you.
We hope that this small action will have brought about some smiles at coffee time!
Cards for the Sick of the Parish
We made 'Thinking of you Cards' and sent them to the sick of the Parish, to make them aware that they are in the thoughts and prayers of the school.
