St John Payne Catholic School in Chelmsford has been honoured with the CAFOD LiveSimply Award, recognising the school's commitment to sustainable living, solidarity with global communities, and care for the environment. The award, encouraged by the Bishops of England and Wales, celebrates Catholic communities that choose to live simply and sustainably.
Faith-Based Actions Across Year Groups
The school implemented nine faith-inspired actions for students in Years 7 to 13, blending existing practices with new initiatives. These included fundraising for CAFOD World Gifts, an intergenerational afternoon tea, a Sanctity of Life cross-curricular day, recycling drives, participation in the CAFOD Cancel the Debt campaign, student representation at the Houses of Parliament, and a Caritas Diocese of Brentwood Sleep Out to support the homeless.
Student Leadership and Community Engagement
Angela Schluter, head of religious education, explained: "The LiveSimply Award was presented to us after we successfully planned and implemented faith-inspired actions that highlighted the importance of caring for people and the planet. The new actions provided further opportunities for students to lead on initiatives and be servant leaders." Students from the Youth St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) organised an afternoon tea for older parish members, involving fundraising, guest invitations, activity planning, event setup, and personal conversations with attendees.
Impact on School Mission
Schluter added: "This work is important because it helps us fulfil our mission as a Catholic school. We want our students to understand that faith is not simply something we learn about, but something we live out through our actions." The award has helped embed Catholic social teaching into school life, demonstrating a commitment to living simply, sustainably, and in solidarity with the world's poorest communities. She hopes students recognise their power to make a positive difference, no matter how small their actions.
Ongoing Commitment
The school's LiveSimply journey continues beyond the award, with students developing awareness of local and global issues and deepening their sense of responsibility to others and the planet.
