The SVP is an international Christian voluntary organisation, providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. Our main purpose is to offer people the hand of friendship through befriending visits. While our motivation stems from our religious beliefs, we do not try to convert people or impose our faith.
The SVP has more than 10,000 members in England and Wales who carry out befriending visits and nearly 200 staff engaged in a wide variety of projects, providing practical support in the heart of local communities. Our local SVP conference currently has 4 members. We are funded solely by Church collections, coffee mornings and other local donations. The activities we are involved in include:
Locally:
1. Befriending visits.
2. Support those in need with practical, pastoral and financial help. This may include Families, the Elderly in their own homes or in residential care, Refugees and Asylum seekers, the Homeless and any others who may find themselves in need of support.
3. We provide a weeks holiday at a holiday home in Talacre, North Wales, for anyone, particularly families, who otherwise would not be able to get away.
4. We provide support to our local homeless shelter.
5. We provide support to our local food banks.
Chester and the wider area
1. We help to support the Holiday home project practically and financially.
2. We give support to Chester Aid to the homeless situated in the city centre.
3. We are currently supporting a new diocesan initiative, St Vincents centre in Birkenhead, which will provide a drop-in centre bringing together a number of services, CAB, Food bank etc.
Nationally
1. We support National Youth development projects.
2. We also support National homelessness projects.
Internationally
We provide support via the Twinnage project to 2 twins, St Sebastian’s and Vazhappily house, in the Kerala area of India. This support goes towards projects involving providing clean drinking water and sanitation. Some of our support goes towards training to help young people find work.
Contact details:
President: Sue McCarthy
Email: presidentF180402@svp.org.uk
Telephone: 07515491251
Treasurer: Mark Traynor Email: treasurerF180402@svp.org.uk
Telephone: As above