In July 2021 we became the first school in Manchester Local Authority to gain the Caritas Live Simply Award
Here are some of the things we already do and some we plan to do to achieve our award and our aim of living simply:
1 Hold a walk, vigil or reflection to reflect on creation
Whole school walk around Cringle Park finishing in our Forest School
2 Say the livesimply prayer
To be displayed in classes behind altars and said daily.
3 Hold a seasonal liturgy or livesimply Mass
Linked to number 1. Liturgy in Forest School
4 Celebrate the feast of St Francis, patron saint of the environment, on 4 October
Whole school learning about St.Francis on that day.
5 Celebrate the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September
1st activity we all do in RE books in September.
6 Tree planting for Baptisms and first Holy Communions
Can this be done on the church grounds after Communions each year?
7 Hold an outdoor service
We have evidence of this with Father Ahern and others planned - including our weekly collective worship sessions in each class
8 Use worship materials from the Green Christian website
Work ongoing
9 Make and display a livesimply banner from
recycled materials
Planned for next academic year
10 Support CAFOD’s Lent and Harvest Fast Days
We could link this to our collection for cornerstones.
11 Allocate time for silent reflection before Mass
We this before collective worships and children already sit and reflect quietly before church services.
12 Write messages of hope for refugees, inspired by the Lampedusa cross

Mr Usher will make a large one of these for outside and the children write messages on.
13 Invite a speaker to talk about Laudato Si’
Father Ahern will come and talk to us on his next visit
14 Reflect on Laudato Si’ using CAFOD’s guide
Practical action - has ben done as part of our self evaluation of RE
15 Rules to reduce waste
To be done.
16 Compost kitchen waste
Speak to kitchen.
17 Use washable – not disposable - napkins, cloths, mugs and cutlery
In place
18 Email copies of newsletters instead of printing
We already do this
19 Print double-sided to save paper
We already do this.
20 Create an outdoor space for prayer and contemplation
We have a well used Peace Garden.
21 Support or set up a second-hand school uniform exchange
We regularly place uniform outside that parents and carers can access free of charge
22 Conduct an energy audit of buildings and monitor progress
Planned for next academic year.
23 Draught-proof and insulate buildings
Done
24 Investigate whether your diocese is part of the ChurchMarketPlace / IFM renewable energy scheme
To be done.
25 Use energy-saving lightbulbs and switch off lights
We have a works schedule to install latest lighting which uses latest bulbs etc.
26 Turn off computers and photocopiers when not in use
We do this.
27 Timetable meetings to minimise heating
Lunch instead of after school.
28 Reduce the use of floodlights
Outdoor lighting on front is timed.
29 Audit your recycling and look for more ways you can recycle
Massive! and ongoing currently the Fire trade group are looking at this
30 Install double glazing 31 Install solar panels
All new windows are double glazed.
We could install solar panels on roof and sell electric back the grid.
32 Reduce water wastage
Timed taps to be fitted throughout school.
33 Display local bus routes
Done
34 Provide bike racks
Done.
35 Encourage car-shares for meetings, or to attend church
We do this when we go to St.Cuthbert's for twilights.
36 Hold a ‘Walk to School’ day
We are part of the living streets and walk to school programme WOW + stickers for children that walk that day.
We also do a daily mile!
37 Become a collection point for local foodbanks
Cornerstones plus Burnage centre.
38 Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products
Evidence invoices.
39 Use recycled paper and envelopes
Evidence invoices.
40 Install bird feeders, boxes or bat boxes
Planned for next academic year
41 Create a shared vegetable garden
Community allotment space now in place plus our new school greenhouse
42 Become a Fairtrade parish or school
Discuss with governors
43 Use ethical banking and insurance
Done
44 Fundraise for CAFOD World Gifts
Done
45 Install a water butt to collect rain water
Planned for next academic year
46 Support local refugee projects
Planned for next academic year
47 Hold a card signing in support of CAFOD’s latest campaign
Planned for next academic year
48 Organise a litter-picking walk
We do these regularly
49 Make links with other local faith groups
Madina mosque.
50 Plant wildflowers to attract insects and birds
We do this already
51 Collect unwanted spectacles, mobile phones and ink cartridges for recycling Reaching out.
Planned for next academic year
52 Promote a parish or school ‘unplugged day’ - No TVs, phones or computers
Planned for next academic year
53 Create a ‘livesimply ideas’ Lenten or Advent calendar
Can be done in each class. 5 min sketch in a daily grid box.
54 Encourage everyone to make a livesimply pledge
Planned for next academic year

55 Put living simply tips of the week in a newsletter or on a noticeboard
Add this section to newsletter from September
56 Organise parish walks or days out which are open to all
Link to number 1.
57 Organise a children’s gardening club
We do this already.
58 Organise a Bring and Buy sale
Xmas? Money raised goes to CAFOD.
59 Publicise local recycling facilities
On weekly newsletter.
60 Hold a film evening with a livesimply theme; showing, for example, ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, or ‘Before the Flood’
Planned for next academic year
61 Hold a climate change quiz night
Planned for next academic year
62 Run CAFOD’s climate change game with your class or youth group
Planned for next academic year
63 Make links with local groups, such as Friends of the Earth, Wildlife Trust, RSPB
Planned for next academic year
64 Set up a St Vincent de Paul group
On St.Francis Day 4th October.
65 Write to local council leaders, MPs or MEPs
We do this already for example Celebrating difference day.
66 Write to local newspapers about important local issues
Litter pick and campaign to stop housing being built on local green field site
67 Link to communities in developing countries with CAFOD’s Connect2
We do this through our links to Fr Pat and to Chimbote
68 Support local refugees with the Jesuit Refugee Service
Planned for next academic year
69 Make land available for people to grow food
We do this through our free mini allotments
70 Become an access point for a local credit union
Links to the Bread and butter thing
71 Support local furniture re-use organisations
To be done. There are places on A6.
72 Provide household items for rehoused homeless people
We do this for families in need
73 Lobby or go to meet your local MP
Good links and has given a talk in school.
74 Visit elderly or housebound people
Locals at Christmas.
75 Make craft items out of recycled materials
Garden pots competition out of milk bottles.
76 Use ‘freecycle’ websites to give away unwanted items
We do this as and when we need to
77 Use charity shops
We do this - often to find reading books
78 Use Fairtrade products, including cleaning products
We already do this
79 Buy locally sourced food
We have moved to providing our own school lunches and this will be part of our commitment.
80 Grow your own vegetables
We already do this
81 Enjoy nature
All children have access to nature. This is planned though our Forest school programme.
82 Pray before meals
We already do this
83 Buy ethical clothing
Uniforms are from ethically sourced supplier
84 Check your carbon footprint
Links to walking to school Sustrans etc. this is ongoing
85 Close windows, curtains and doors to keep heat in
We do this already.
86 Insulate your loft
New part of school is insulated.
87 Don’t leave appliances on standby
Ongoing - We need to do more of this.
88 ‘Food for thought’ before meals – considering origins of our food
Grace before meals.
89 Walk, cycle, take the bus, tram or train instead of driving
Sustrans and Manchester BeeNetwork.
90 Reduce driving speeds to use less fuel.
Part of the Sustrans approach
91 Share cars and offer lifts to others
Sustrans and ManchesterBeeNetwork.
92 Save water
Ongoing
93 Cook with leftovers
plans to lessen rate and reuse food as we take on our own school lunches
94 Switch to renewable energy, for example through Ecotricity
95 Have a weekly meat-free day
We already do this on Fridays.
96 Compost food waste
This is in place but could be expanded
97 Use cloth bags instead of plastic carrier bags
Planned for next academic year
98 Offer temporary housing for homeless youngsters
We liaise with the homeless families unit as appropriate
99 Volunteer for a cause you care about
Planned for next academic year
100 Help local foodbanks distribute surplus food to people in need
We already have links to Cornerstones and t the food bank and were instrumental in supporting the set up of That Bread and Butter thing.