On Tuesday of this week, we were delighted to host a day of the CAFOD Young Leaders’ Course which a group of our sixth formers take part in. Students from St Peter’s, Gloucester, St Augustine’s in Trowbridge and St Brendan’s joined us in being led by CAFOD and Dave Wheat focusing heavily on the actions young people can take for environmentalism. CAFOD have recently launched a new campaign called ‘Our common Home’ which challenges our young people to become zero heroes, and seize the momentum that is around at present to challenge our leaders and become less of a polluting nation.

Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.

– Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ 13

Led by the fantastic paring of Sarah Burrows from CAFOD and our Diocesan Youth Co-ordinator, Dave Wheat, we explored the ways in which we can push our MPs into acting on climate change. Later on in the day, Kezia, who is currently taking part in the CAFOD ‘Step into the Gap’ programme, spoke to students about her experiences of fundraising, campaigning, working in a retreat centre and recently going out to the West Bank to meet CAFOD partners and learn about the work they undertake.

Since Wednesday, our group of leaders have been inspired to take on the mantle in school and push for changes in the way we recycle and look after our own school environment. I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour. We hope the other sixth form students and staff enjoyed visiting The Well and come back again next year!

Mr M Robinson
Lay Chaplain