Daughters of Charity Services Conference 2023 - Solidarity for Justice

Daughters of Charity Services held a two-day conference in Manchester’s city centre last week. Running from 13 – 14 June, the event brought together 50 attendees and served to shape the narrative of collaboration for the years ahead.

Among delegates were CEOs, trustees, senior members and front-line staff from the six diverse UK charities that make up the Daughters of Charity Services group; St Joseph’s, The Louise Project, Out There, The Marillac, St Vincent’s Family Project and Vincentian Care Plus. They were joined by guests including representatives from the Provincial Council, and representatives from charities which share our common mission, including The Listening Heart, new drop-in centre in Glasgow that provides a listening and pastoral service, and the Luton-based homelessness charity NOAH.

It was the group’s first major conference in five years. The event was entitled ‘Solidarity for Justice’, a core Vincentian value that is shared across the group.

On Tuesday 13th June, Chief Executive Officer of Daughters of Charity Services, Mark Choonara, and the charity’s Chair, Sister Ellen Flynn, opened the conference before welcoming the first keynote speakers. Attendees heard from a panel who are leading on new initiatives across the group, followed by Raymond Friel OBE - CEO of Caritas Social Action Network - who demonstrated the parallels between the shared Vincentian Charism and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Day two of the conference saw Sir John Battle highlight effective approaches to advocating alongside those in greatest need, drawing on his long career of service, from campaigning against poverty to serving as Government Minister. The President of Depaul Group, Mark McGreevy, provided an insight into how he has developed successful collaborative initiatives across a broad range of groups, from establishing Depaul International to the more recent impact of the FamVin Homeless Alliance.

The final session was held by Mark Choonara who spoke about the group’s collaborative future and working together for Solidarity for Justice. Mark was joined by Daughters of Charity Services’ Group Communications Manager, Riana Brown, and Research and Policy Officer, Dakota Langhals, who presented the development of advocacy work already taking place and the group’s responsibility to responding to injustices.

Throughout the conference, attendees took part in roundabout table discussions and had the opportunity to share opinions, front-line stories and input to the group’s development.

Mark Choonara said: “This has been a wonderful opportunity to bring together colleagues from across our group who share in our common mission of serving those in greatest need with dignity, love and kindness. It’s been inspiring to hear the work taking place both within our extraordinary group charities, and in the wider field from which we can draw, as we seek to continue our service of living out the Vincentian Charism in practice across Britain in the 21st century.”

Sister Ellen said: “We are so blessed to have such wonderful, committed, enthusiastic and passionate people in our organisations bringing the qualities of compassion, dignity and innovation to all with whom they walk in solidarity. This conference has searched for ways not only to sustain its current work but to advocate for the systemic change needed for true justice, and to collaborate with all who respond to the people impacted by poor policy through no fault of their own. May all those we support now and in the future continue to be our hope and inspiration.”