Welcome to SVP Manchester Camp, part of the St Vincent de Paul Society (England & Wales).
Explore the website to learn more about Camp, what Camp involves and access SVP support. Our aim is to provide children who are aged 9- 12 years old with a life changing holiday.
Sunday 10 August 2025 and return on Friday 15 August 2025.
When is the Camp ?
The camp will run from Sunday 10 August 2025 and return on Friday 15 August 2025.
Children will leave by coach and be returned by coach to the same drop off point.
Where is the Camp ?
The Camp will be held in North Wales at an outdoor centre. This Outdoor Centre is used regularly by local authorities and other groups and has fully trained and appropriately qualified instructors. The children will be accommodated and feed within the Centre.
Who can attend the camp ?
There are 40 places available with a target of 20 Boys and 20 Girls .
Children MUST be aged 9, 10 or 11yrs at the time of camp, with no exceptions !
The camp is aimed primarily at children who would not otherwise be able to have a holiday away this year.
What information is needed :
Initially we simply need
- Name of child
- Date of birth
- Name of parent or carer
- E mail address of parent / carer
- Phone number of parent / carer if possible
These details should be forwarded to Royston Colaco by e mail to RoystonC@svp.org.uk
Royston (employed as a Support Officer by the St Vincent De Paul Society) will then liaise direct with families to complete a confidential detailed application form.
What happens at the Camp ?
There will be adventure and fun activities each day for the children led by the Activity Centre staff.
There will also be around 10 SVP volunteers accompanying the children on the holiday.
All of the volunteers will have DBS enhanced checks and training in safeguarding and children’s wellbeing. The SVP is experienced in running camps around the country and the camp will be run in strict accordance with the Society’s safeguarding policies.
How much does it cost ?
The holiday is free for the children attending. Costs are being met by the Saint Vincent De Paul Society.
If you have any further questions please contact Royston Colaco on roystonc@svp.org.uk
07939 226293
This year’s children’s camp for children aged 9 to 11 took place once again from August 4th to August 10th. Our Support Officer, Royston Colaco and SVP conferences across the Salford Diocese worked hard to identify 40 children from many different towns and schools to attend the camp.
In the event 36 children actually made the trip. It’s probably inevitable that a few will drop out at the last moment for various reasons and this did give us some room for manoeuvre on bedroom spaces!
After Mass at St Vincent’s Norden and a quick pit stop for lunch at Pantasaph Priory, the children arrived in Wales in time for tea and a few ice breaker games before cocoa, biscuits and bed.
Next day they were out and about in their four teams discovering the thrills of caving, canoeing, gorge-walking, abseiling, and fun and games on the beach. Tuesday and Thursday saw similar trips out accompanied by the specialist instructors from Plas Gwynant. Wednesday, our own volunteer team took the children out by coach to ‘Bounce Below’ at Blaenau Ffestiniog and then on to swimming at Porth Madog. Finally, a quick trip for souvenirs and ice creams at Beddgelert on a busy day.
Evenings found the children enjoying the beautiful grounds of Plas Gwynant, and taking part in activities including our own Olympic Games, arts and crafts evening, film night, and then, a not to be forgotten talent night. The week saw even the shyest children gain confidence and make new friends. With no phone signal and no mobile phones, the week proved an escape from some of the pressures of modern life, and an opportunity for children from many different backgrounds to enjoy an action-packed community holiday in inspiring landscapes.
It was a great pleasure and privilege to get to know the children and see them grow and thrive over the course of the week. We were blessed with a strong team of 11 volunteers with an ideal mix of ages and skills. Plas Gwynant looked after us very well with good food, and help and advice when needed.
Thank you very much to all who supported the camp by fund raising, supporting families and children to attend, with prayers and by attending as volunteers. We are looking forward to next year’s camp already!
A final memory: a quiet boy with some reluctance to communicate, climbing over a stile in the Plas Gwynant garden and shouting ‘I’m free!‘ before running off to join his new friends in the distance. Little moments like that make it all worthwhile.