St Benedict's Sixth Formers staff Soup Kitchen for the Homeless

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 13th of September 2011

Sixth Formers at St Benedict's School, Ealing, staff a soup kitchen for the homeless every month. This is a longstanding commitment fulfilled by the school's Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP). The kitchen is held at St John's Church in Mattock Lane, West Ealing on a Saturday and Sunday.

Upper Sixth student Tess Fawcett, who is this year's President of the Sixth Form SVP, describes what they do. 'We have around twenty members in our group, so we have a duty rota, with eight of us attending once a month between 3.00 and 5.00pm on a Saturday and Sunday. Half of us work in the kitchen preparing the meals and washing up, while the others serve the homeless people who attend that day. The soup kitchen has an average attendance of thirty people.'

The Sixth Form SVP also helps out on a regular basis at Mencap's Enterprise Lodge in Stockdove Road, Perivale.

Headmaster Chris Cleugh founded the SVP at St Benedict's nine years ago, when he took over the headship. He continues to be the group's staunchest supporter. 'I am delighted that St Benedict's School has one of the largest active school SVP groups in the country. The Sixth Formers are responsible for all the organisational aspects. I believe that responding to the needs of others is an important element of the education we offer and an inseparable part of our school ethos.'

St Benedict's School also runs Middle School (11-14 years) and Upper School (14- 16 years) SVP groups.