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 The aim of the St Vincent de Paul Society is the same today as it was at its conception in the 19th Century: to tackle poverty in all its forms through the provision of practical assistance to those in need.
The concept of need is broader than financial hardship, so visiting the sick, the lonely, the addicted, the imprisoned and those suffering from disabilities form a large proportion of the Society's work.
The Society is active in 140 countries and has nearly 600,000 members worldwide. In England and Wales , its 10,000 volunteers annually carry out over 625,000 recorded visits. The essential work of the Society is person to person contact, and as this is a fundamental part of the Society's ethos, it does not make donations to any work in which members are not personally involved. However it recognises that material or financial assistance may help those it visits overcome crises and develop longer-term solutions to their problems.
Where financial problems are involved, the main objective is to foster sound budgeting and debt management. It may be possible to supply some items of furniture or clothing, but the responsibility to ensure we do not leave people dependent on help is recognised. Training is available to members, ensuring that they are equipped to carry out their work in a competent manner.
The Society operates in small groups, called "Conferences", based on local parishes or schools. They meet regularly to review their work as well as allocating future work in a spirit of prayer and mutual support. The work of a Conference is usually concentrated on local visiting.
Over the years, the SVP has responded to social changes, providing a range of additional services depending on the prevailing need. Today, these “Special Works” include furniture stores, support centres, providing accommodation to vulnerable people, disability projects, soup runs, children's camps and various holiday schemes amongst other things. The most recent initiative is the creation of Community Shops providing resources and employment in areas of deprivation.
reproduced from www.svp.org.uk/index.htm
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