Depaul UK focuses on young people in crisis and beyond. We support young people by:
- Offering a safe place to stay in a crisis,
- Helping them to take the step from homelessness into stable housing, and
- Providing specialist long-term support to help get lives back on track.
Depaul UK is part of Depaul International – parent of the worldwide family of charities that works with people who are homeless. Click on the link above to know more.
This work is inspired by the values of Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), a major social reformer in 17th century France. Saint Vincent de Paul reached out to the poor and the disenfranchised, valuing each and every person.
He attracted a large group of supporters and volunteers, whom he inspired with his love for the poor, building bridges between rich people and those living in poverty.
Vincent de Paul devoted his life to helping the poor, sick and needy, and was canonised in 1737. He is often referred to as “the Saint of Charity”.
Vincentian Values are key to the foundation and work of the Depaul Group and all its national charities.
The Depaul Group began in 1989 in response to the growing number of homeless people on the streets of London.
The initial idea emerged from The Passage Day Centre, in Victoria, a project of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.
Sister Barbara Smith, who was then Director of The Passage, and her management team and trustees brought their proposal to Cardinal Basil Hume who agreed to be Patron of the new charity Depaul Trust and support its inception.
The founder members were the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and The Passage Day Centre – all of which have their roots in the life and work of Saint Vincent de Paul.
In those early years in London, Depaul was proud to have the unstinting support of Diana, Princess of Wales, who visited Depaul projects regularly, making time to sit and talk to residents in our hostels for single homeless young people aged from 16 to 25.
Our Parish supports Depaul UK’s work with homeless young people. You can too – just visit https://uk.depaulcharity.org/ to donate.