Social Action (Caritas)
Caritas – that’s Latin for charity. Because supporting charities is what we do at the Caritas Social Action Network.
Essentially, we’re an umbrella group for Catholic charities that offer support for families, children and the elderly. Two basic values underpin our work: love for the vulnerable and social justice. To help us apply those values, a panel of Catholic scholars write regular essays and spiritual reflections to guide us.
Caritas Social Action Network also has a limited advocacy role – representing the pressures on Catholic charities to the Government. Occasionally, we also work in partnership with other organisations. We are members of Caritas Europa but can’t deliver the services they do. For that, we’d recommend you contact your local branch of the St Vincent de Paul society at svp.org.uk.
Visit the Caritas Social Action Network website.
Dementia and Spirituality DVD
"It's still ME, Lord..."
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has released a DVD that aims to raise awareness of the spiritual needs of people with dementia.
There are now 700,000 people with dementia in the UK. In recognising the dignity and rights of people with dementia and their carers, there must also be greater awareness of their spiritual needs and their need to practice their faith. At the launch of a mapping report on older peoples’ services provided by the Catholic Church, Archbishop Vincent Nichols said “the elderly are not a burden, but a gift!”.
Caritas Social Action Network has created a valuable resource for carers, tackling dementia from a spiritual perspective, in order to ensure that the inner value and the dignity of elderly people are not neglected.
Catholic services for older people
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) is commissioning a study to quantify, assess and understand the scope and nature of the Catholic community delivering services to older people.
The scope of the project will include formal residential care, residential care offered by religious orders to members of their own communities which does not require registration, and formal support services offered at parish and community level within dioceses.
Dementia and Spirituality Project
The rising incidence of dementia in our aging population is one of the biggest challenges to our health and social care system, as the recent campaign of the Alzheimer's Society has made us aware.
There is a developing awareness of the spiritual and pastoral needs of people with dementia and their carers. As we focus on person-centred approaches to the care and support of people with dementia and recognise their dignity and rights, we need to ensure that their spiritual needs as well as the practice of their faith are both acknowledged and met.