Caritas Westminster is grateful to the Benefact Trust for its continued support of our work to strengthen parish social action across the Diocese. Through our network of Development Workers and Caritas Parish Representatives, we help parish communities build local partnerships, respond to emerging needs, and create opportunities for people to flourish.
Today, 105 Caritas Parish Representatives are active across the Diocese of Westminster. They work across our network of over 500 social action projects, which are often run out of church halls and offer accessible and welcoming spaces for people to meet in their local area. As lead volunteers, our Caritas Parish Representatives take on various roles and responsibilities such as coordinating resources, liaising with partners, and helping with the marketing of events. More importantly, every action is carried out with love, respect and care, underpinned by a solid understanding of Catholic Social Teaching.
One example is The Transfiguration Parish in Kensal Rise, where Caritas Parish Representative Ana Lopez worked closely with her local Caritas Development Worker to strengthen support for the local community. Together, they developed partnerships with NHS Brent, Brent Council and local charities, leading to free health check events that reached almost 40 people, with 11 referred to their GP for further tests.
Ana’s work with Caritas Westminster is very much a two-way process. She doesn’t just pass information from Caritas to the parishioners and local community; she also sends information from the community back to her Caritas Development Worker, Rocio. She says:
“Whenever I come across local organisations, new initiatives, or support services, I share them with Rocio. She then looks at how Caritas can collaborate with these groups for the benefit of both the parish and the wider community.”
This is a model that turns a modest investment into a remarkable amplification effect: each paid member of staff engaging a team of volunteer Parish Representatives, who in turn mobilise their fellow parishioners to serve entire communities. Across the Diocese of Westminster, Caritas Westminster equips parish volunteers, strengthens local outreach initiatives and increases the Church’s capacity to support vulnerable people in their communities.
Reflecting on the impact of the programme, Stephen Curran, Head of Caritas Community Development, said:
“We believe every parish has the potential to be a place where people experience welcome, belonging and practical support. Our role is to help communities recognise local need, build partnerships and develop lasting social action rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. We’re hugely grateful to Benefact Trust for making that possible, enabling more parishes to become places of hope, compassion and service across the Diocese.”
