When St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Dudley achieved the CAFOD Live Simply Award in 2023, it marked a significant moment for pupils, staff and families. But for the school community, the award was never intended to be a finishing line. Instead, it became a foundation on which to continue building a way of life rooted in faith, care for creation and solidarity with others.

From the outset, the school was clear: Live Simply would not end with the assessment visit. It would remain an integral part of the school’s Catholic life, shaping how pupils learn, pray and act each day.

Growing faith and care for creation
One of the most visible signs of this commitment is the school’s Bible Garden. Originally developed as part of the Live Simply journey, it has continued to grow well beyond the award. Pupils are still involved in planting, harvesting and cooking produce from the garden, learning first‑hand about sustainability, stewardship and gratitude for God’s gifts.

The garden supports learning across the curriculum while also offering opportunities for reflection and prayer. It reinforces an important message for pupils: caring for creation is not a one‑off project, but a daily responsibility rooted in faith.

A Pilgrim’s Pond and the Year of Hope
During the Pilgrim Year of Hope, St Joseph’s created a Pilgrim’s Pond, adding a new dimension to its outdoor prayer and reflection spaces. The pond has become a focal point for pondering journey, hope and our shared responsibility for the world.

This development shows how Live Simply continues to inspire new initiatives at the school. Rather than repeating the same activities each year, staff and pupils look for meaningful ways to respond to the liturgical calendar and the wider mission of the Church.

Linking local action with global solidarity
CAFOD continued to accompany St Joseph’s after the award was achieved, recognising the school’s ongoing commitment. Through this relationship, the school’s Bible Garden and Pilgrim’s Pond were linked to CAFOD’s work with communities in Bangladesh, particularly projects supporting families to grow food despite the challenges of flooding caused by climate change.

This global connection has helped pupils understand that small, local actions are part of something much bigger. Learning about families in Bangladesh who use floating gardens to grow food has deepened pupils’ awareness of global injustice, climate change and the importance of standing in solidarity with others.

Love grows through small, daily actions. At St Joseph’s, this message is lived out in practical, accessible ways that children can understand and act upon.

Live Simply as a way of life

What stands out at St Joseph’s is not just the range of activities, but the intentional decision to keep going. Live Simply is now embedded in the culture of the school: in assemblies, lessons, prayer, outdoor spaces and relationships with the wider world.

By continuing to develop its Bible Garden, creating new prayer spaces and strengthening global links, St Joseph’s shows how the Live Simply Award can be a starting point for long‑term change.

The school’s journey is a reminder that living simply, sustainably and in solidarity is not about completing a checklist, but about forming hearts and habits that last well beyond an award certificate.

You can see more about how St Joseph’s was been linked with the project in Bangladesh in this video: 

Caring for Creation in the Archdiocese