On a chilly night in November, hundreds gathered in Westminster Cathedral Hall for the Diocese of Westminster’s ‘Love in Action’ Volunteering Awards, hosted by the Caritas Volunteer Service. Whilst the occasion may not have had the glamour of the Oscars, it was a moving tribute to the profound impact of volunteers who support the most vulnerable in our communities.
The event recognised volunteers from across the diocese for outstanding commitment to voluntary service, with finalists selected from a pool of over 60 nominations.
Six Caritas Ambassadors from Years 3–6 at St George’s Catholic Primary School were awarded for their efforts supporting the homeless charity Hands On, Hands Out. Through their Easter Appeal, they raised over £200 in gift cards for local coffee shops, alongside collecting Easter eggs, chocolate, and biscuits for the homeless. Over the summer, they continued their efforts by running a ‘Caritas Pops’ ice-cream stall at the school’s Summer Fayre, using the proceeds to purchase clothing and hygiene products for those in need.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mary Foster for 50 years of service to her parish, during which she helped with Parenting Classes for new parents, bereavement counselling, and co-founded the Parish Bereavement Group, as well as being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
Outside of the parish, Mary was also a founder of the charity Acton Homeless Concern, which is now in its 35th year. At 83, she continues to be responsible for the charity’s provision to women and children. Mary’s nominator says it best: ‘She is an icon of Love in Action.’
Speaking at the event, Richard Harries, Director of Caritas Westminster, acknowledged the impact of volunteers:
‘Volunteers bring to life the Church’s teaching on the ministry of charity, and it is a privilege for Caritas Westminster to celebrate the efforts of parishioners who have gone the extra mile in loving their neighbours,’
Community of Care
Remarkably, the most prestigious recognition this year was awarded not to a person, but to Marley, the resident cat of Caritas Bakhita House. Marley won ‘Cat of the Year' from Cats Protection, for his role in providing emotional support to women at Caritas Bakhita House, a safe house for women who have survived trafficking and exploitation.
Marley’s recognition shone a light on the vital work done by Caritas Bakhita House. Since opening in 2015, the centre has provided safe accommodation to 195 women and 16 babies from nearly 50 countries. It offers trauma-informed care and therapeutic activities in a safe, community-focused environment, as well as empowering guests by supporting those who wish to bring perpetrators to justice.
What makes Caritas Bakhita House different from other safe houses is that women can stay for as long as they need; whether that’s two days or two years. Community is also a distinguishing feature of life: guests, staff and volunteers share a meal every evening, taking turns to cook, and living together often forms lasting bonds between guests.
One significant outcome this year was the conviction of a man to a 27-and-a-half-year prison sentence for serial abuse. The centre played a key role in supporting the survivor through the process of testifying against her abuser, and she later stated:
‘I knew that if I did not go to court, he would have done this to someone else. Someone could have died.’
Survivors of abuse face unimaginable challenges, and while Caritas Bakhita House offers shelter and safety to women from around the world, Safe in Faith works to cultivate safe support for survivors at the local level.
In 2024, Caritas Westminster’s Safe in Faith project launched ‘Ask for Mary’initiative that trains clergy and parish staff to provide a safe space for individuals in danger, enabling them to use phones and the internet to seek help discreetly. Such efforts are life-saving, as demonstrated by Ellie (not her real name), who was supported by a priest trained through Safe in Faith. Ellie said:
‘My parish priest saved my life, and my children’s lives.’
In 2024, Safe in Faith trained a total of 128 therapists and counselling professionals, alongside 57 clergy and parish staff, helping them to offer support tailored to the needs of believers.
In our parishes, there are many examples of individuals giving their efforts to walk in solidarity with others. In one case, local parishioners and artists, Julian and Emily Game, hosted an art exhibition in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
The event, which was attended by sixty guests and showcased over eighty original artworks, helped to raise over £4,000 for the children’s charity. The event was organised to thank GOSH for their incredible work caring for children and young people.
At Our Lady of the Holy Souls in Kensal New Town in November, the parish celebrated the service of Mary O’Donoghue. Over the last 45 years, Mary has served the Parish as a sacristan, catechist, member of the Union of Catholic Mothers, lector, cleaner and by opening up and closing the Church each day.
As a thank you and token of the great love and affection she is held in by all, a surprise Mass was held in her honour where she was presented with a volunteer’s medal and certificate from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and tributes from her native Parish of Straide, in County Mayo.
Expressing his appreciation, Fr Damian Ryan, parish priest, said,
'Mary has a real charism for looking after priests and I could not do my job without her.'
Financial Relief and Community Renewal
Through the diocese’s many grant and voucher schemes, we provide direct relief to people who are facing economic adversity. In 2024, the voucher scheme administered by Caritas Westminster saw a shift towards greater emphasis on choice and dignity, with beneficiaries able to select vouchers for food retailers, clothing, energy and other essentials to suit their needs. 51 parishes and 54 schools participated in the distribution scheme, which supported over 3,800 people. Caritas Westminster also provides crisis and funeral grants, working with parishes and other charities to identify those most in need. One beneficiary said:
‘We cannot express how relieved we were to learn of this grant being awarded to help us with the costs of my dad’s funeral. It has lifted a huge burden off our shoulders during these challenging times and is helping us not to incur too much debt as a family.’
The Caritas Community Development team also supported 10 diocesan food initiatives to access funding. In particular, they helped the Sacred Heart Foodbank run by Sacred Heart parish in Holloway to obtain financial support for their bi-monthly service. 650 households are registered at the foodbank, with the project also providing a warm welcome of a hot meal, drinks and snacks.
They also assisted Borehamwood Foodbank, based at St Teresa’s Church in Borehamwood, to access funding to create a Client Welfare Fund. This fund allows the foodbank to offer essential items other than food to their clients. In 2024, Borehamwood Foodbank supported over 8,000 people with emergency food parcels, and the addition of this fund is another positive step towards holistic and dignified care for their community.
In a similar effort focused on revitalising an essential community resource, the diocesan fundraising team supported St John Fisher parish in securing crucial funding to modernise its aging church hall to continue serving diverse needs, from pilates classes to dementia support groups.
Under Fr Shaun Richards’ leadership and with active community consultation, the parish secured crucial funding, including £19,465 from the National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ programme, £106,570 from the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, and additional local contributions, to refurbish the hall.
The project will install accessible facilities, eco-friendly heating and flexible spaces for activities ranging from support groups to family events.
With completion in May 2025, the hall is set to boost its weekly usage by 30% while reducing energy costs by up to 20%, exemplifying how targeted financial relief and community renewal drive lasting local impact.
Fr Shaun Richards shared:
‘This project is a testament to what a community can achieve together. The hall will be a space where everyone feels welcome, offering services that change lives and reduce isolation.’
Creating a safe environment
It is the responsibility of everyone who ministers, works and volunteers in the diocese to promote the culture and practice of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, and of responding to those who come forward to report having suffered harm. Due to the breadth and complexity of our work, the Safeguarding Service leads this effort.
This year the diocese received its first audit from the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA), and was judged to have an overall grading of ‘Firm Progress.’ This is a significant milestone, offering a baseline from which to improve as part of our continued commitment to a Church that is safe and welcoming to all and responsive to those who come forward with concerns.
In 2024, the Safeguarding Service conducted a total of 151 in-person training sessions for clergy, more than double the previous year. The number of people contacting the service seeking advice and support on a range of matters has grown very rapidly over the past years. A total of 126 cases and consultations were dealt with during 2024, with over 1,400 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates issued to ensure that nobody who presents a risk to others is allowed to work or volunteer in a parish.
Each parish has a Safeguarding Representative (PSR); a carefully selected and trained volunteer who works closely with the parish priest to uphold safeguarding standards in their parish. They also provide guidance to other volunteers, particularly those working with children and vulnerable adults, and oversee safer recruitment practices, including (DBS) checks. Supported by the Safeguarding Service, our 333 PSRs ensure that all who engage with the diocese’s work in parishes, agencies and other diocesan bodies can do so with confidence.
