St Thomas More Secondary School in Bedford has been awarded the CAFOD Livesimply award, the first secondary school in our diocese to receive the award.
The CAFOD LiveSimply Award is a recognition given to Catholic communities, schools, and organisations in the UK that demonstrate a commitment to living more sustainably, simply, and in solidarity with people in poverty. Inspired by Catholic social teaching and Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, the award encourages groups to take practical steps to care for the environment, reduce their carbon footprint, and promote social justice. Participants undertake various initiatives, such as reducing waste, supporting ethical trade, conserving energy, and engaging in acts of charity. The award celebrates communities that strive to live out their faith in action, embodying values of stewardship, compassion, and simplicity.
Peter Haddon, CAFOD representative said of the school:
The students were impressively articulate about activities and also about purpose and reason behind these activities. A very key activity for this school was the Cultural Diversity Celebration. The year 10 students spoke eloquently and with much delight about how it brought everyone together and did indeed celebrate this great characteristic of St Thomas More School – with 52 different nations currently identified as represented by the student body, this initiative both contributes to the sense of dignity of one and all, and also does this in a way that notes the blessings of such diversity.
School chaplain, John Bonner highlighted how wonderful it is to see a continuous stream of activities building and building – so the commitment across the school to working with Bedford Foodbank is growing and growing. Similarly the work of creating food for the homeless has been a great source of dedicated activity – added to by the appreciation of the customers for the baking of cakes.
Peter went on to say that
St Thomas More is a super example of the principles and philosophy of Live Simply put into practice and thoroughly deserving of the Award.