The Faith in Action Award encourages young people through recognising, rewarding and celebrating their active faith lived out through service and reflection. The Award helps them connect their life and faith in a tangible manner.
In journeying through the Award, young people should experience a deepening of their relationship with God and find themselves exploring that relationship. It is hoped that through their relationship and action, others will see God's love through them.
Southwark Faith in Action Award
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as stewards of God’s grace (1 Peter 4:10)
The Faith in Action Award is for young people aged 10-18, and enables them to explore and develop their faith through service and reflection in their schools, parishes and wider community.
What are the aims of the Faith in Action Award?
- To nurture and celebrate the faith journey of young people.
- To celebrate the acts of service young people are already actively involved in, and encourage further service in parishes, schools and the wider community.
- To encourage living faith in the ‘real world’.
- To strengthen links between individuals, communities and organisations.
What does the Award entail?
- Young people gain credits through acts of service, in their school or parish, and in the higher levels in the wider community
- Participation in four guided reflections, personal reflection and through journaling.
- Submitting a final piece of work for moderation, along with their reflective journal at the end of the Award year.
“An important challenge is found in a personal and committed relationship with God, which at the same time commits us to serving others.” - Evangelii Gaudium 91
The Award encourages personal and spiritual growth, reflecting the ongoing nature of faith, with emphasis on Discovery, Independence, Leadership and Innovation as participants gain Pin, Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.
Pin Level
- For young people in Year 6, but can be started in the Summer term of year 5.
- 20 credits of service with guided reflection.
- Completed as a group and led by a teacher, youth leader or catechist.
- Examples of service: fundraising, planning an assembly or liturgy, actively participating in an act of worship.
Bronze and Silver Levels
- For young people in Year 7 upwards.
- 20 credits of home service (school or parish) with 10 and 15 away credits respectively (wider community).
- Focus on independence and leadership.
- Examples of service at Bronze level: Ministry of the Word; altar serving, planning and participating in a liturgy or reflection, assisting in parish life through practical help (collecting hymn books at the end of Mass and putting them away, helping serve teas and coffees, supporting Children’s Liturgy activities).
- Examples of service at Silver level: leading children's liturgy; organising a parish social event; regularly volunteering for a charity.
Gold Level
- To be entered for Gold level, young people must have already completed either Bronze or Silver level.
- 20 credits of home service with 20 away credits
- Focus on innovation and development
- Examples of service at Gold level: initiate, plan and organise an act of collective worship; organise and lead a FIA fundraiser or activity; establish a new prayer group in parish or school, raise awareness on issues of social justice.
What admin does the Faith in Action Award involve?
- Registration is a simple process, involving the completion of one form, which can be done online and returned to maryharvey@rcaos.org.uk
- Reflective journals and final submissions are externally moderated in a positive and encouraging way – Southwark Catholic Youth Service are always delighted to participate in this process, or you may choose a school governor, local religious, retired RE teachers or similar.
For further details, or ongoing support for your Faith in Action group please contact Mary Harvey at maryharvey@rcaos.org.uk