Throughout their time at St Joseph’s, children are encouraged to understand that they are part of something much bigger than themselves. They belong to our school family, our parish community, the wider Catholic Church and a global community of people created and loved by God, the body of Christ.

Through Catholic Social Teaching, we help children to recognise the dignity of every person and to understand that we all have a responsibility to care for one another and for our common home. We encourage children to notice the needs of others, respond with compassion and consider how small acts of kindness, their own words, actions and choices can make a positive difference.

Throughout the academic year, children have opportunities to put their faith into action through prayer, service, kindness and generosity. We support a range of local, national and global charities and causes, helping children to understand that our responsibility to love our neighbour extends from the people we meet in our own community to those living across the world.

Locally, we support our food bank, helping children to understand that families and individuals within our own communities can experience times of difficulty and need. Through collecting and donating essential items, children learn about dignity, compassion, solidarity and the importance of sharing what we have with others.

We also develop opportunities for children to visit local care homes, spending time with older members of our community. These visits provide valuable opportunities for children to listen, talk, share stories, pray and simply spend time with others. Through these encounters, children are encouraged to recognise the dignity and value of every person.

CAFOD is one of the charities we work closely with as a school. Through assemblies, activities and opportunities to support CAFOD’s work, children learn about the lives of communities around the world and how the Church responds to poverty, injustice and the needs of others.

Our links with our parish and wider community also provide opportunities for children to encounter Christ through service. Whether this is responding to a local need, a national appeal or learning about the work of an international charity, children are encouraged to see Christ in the people they meet and to recognise that every act of love and service matters. Children and staff have opportunities to help identify causes and organisations that we support throughout the year. In doing so, children develop a stronger understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and begin to recognise that they can be active participants in building a more just, peaceful and compassionate world.

Our aim is not simply to raise money. We want children to encounter Christ through others, to develop a heart for service and to understand that their faith calls them to action.