Young people lead in Buckingham (11 Jun 2007)

Young people are leading the parish in facing up to the livesimply challenge in St Bernardine's, Buckingham.challenge. 

The parish's youth group is open to everyone aged between 11 and 16, and has some 15 regular attendees.  Youth leader Hannah Baldwin says that "the aim is to provide our young people with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the community by getting involved in fundraising, raising awareness about local, national and international issues that are important to our young people."

Hannah reports, "We launched livesimply in our Parish on Youth Sunday. The young people made a huge display upon which they stuck their promises and invited all members of the parish to do the same.

"We have watched the livesimply DVD with films from young people around the world and took part in consequent discussions.

"The group hosted our annual 'Frugal Lunch', which involved them making soup and bread and serving to the parish, in exchange for donations to CAFOD.

"We have also just had a visit from CAFOD Regional Organiser Frank Sudlow who delivered a fantastic workshop. As a result, the young people plan to get in touch with their MP and write letters asking him to do something about the debt owed by the world's poorest countries. They also plan to invite their MP (John Bercow) to come and visit them so they can ask what can be done to help these countries.

"We bring our young people together socially by coordinating outings (ice skating, tobogganing etc.) and residentials too. They are a great bunch and really enthusiastic; so committed to making a difference."