SERVICES
Caritas Leeds 
Caritas Leeds is a network providing practical resources that support and enable social action initiatives across the Diocese to be safe and to follow good practice.
Jesus gave his followers two great commandments:
- To love God
- To love our neighbour
Today, Christians around the world show this love through all kinds of practical works of charity.
In 2023 Bishop Marcus designated the Charity Catholic Care as Caritas Leeds. This means that Catholic Care, in addition to engaging in charitable works itself , also supports other diocesan groups in their social action.
As Caritas Leeds, Catholic Care will support, enhance and, when deemed appropriate, coordinate – not replace or take over – the various charitable projects already being done by many Catholic groups and parish projects in the Diocese, and also enable new initiatives to flourish. Caritas Leeds will provide capacity building to promote the development of volunteer led initiatives across the Diocese.
Sharing the love of God. Caritas is the Latin word for love.
Practical resources
Parishes, groups and charities will still run their own initiatives and have complete responsibility for them. Those that want to be part of Caritas Leeds , and we hope all of them will, will be invited to sign up to a Code of Mutual Understanding and Good Practice and become members of Caritas Leeds.
As a member you will be entitled to use the Caritas branding, which is recognised world wide as a sign of the Church’s loving care.
A Toolkit is now available, giving you ideas of initiatives you can run in your parish and advice on how to do this. For those groups who complete all the necessary requirements, they will become members of Caritas Leeds thereby bringing a sense of identity and a feeling of belonging to the Diocese of Leeds.
The toolkit helpfully includes the following sections:
- Building relationships with your Parish
- Finding out what is already going on for people here and now.
- Discerning opportunities to build on what is already available
- Getting new activities going
- Examples of activities already taking place
- How to gain Caritas Leeds Accreditation
- Examples of volunteer role descriptions
- Volunteer application forms and reference template
- Examples of publicity material.
Forthcoming events
18 October 2025: Caritas Leeds Day of Reflection & Action
Building on the success of our first Day of Reflection & Action in September 2024, Caritas Leeds will be hosting “Hope does not disappoint,” : A morning of prayer, reflection and discussion to help us renew our commitment to putting Catholic Social Teaching into action in our parishes, schools and communities.
This event will be held at Hinsley Hall in Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 18th October, 10am-2pm.
- Buffet lunch.
- To register your interest: education.admin@dioceseofleeds.org.uk/ 0113 261 8040.
- This is a joint initiative by the Vicariate for Education and Catholic Care.