Posted on: 9th December 2024

Tom Allan has just taken up the position of Chair of the Steering Group for SPARK Social Justice. This is a project started 6 years ago by the Leeds Diocese Justice & Peace Commission, with financial support from Porticus. Only too well-aware of the aging profile of its supporters, the Commission wanted to harness the passion that younger people have for issues of social justice and link this to faith - and in particular, to Catholic Social Teaching.

Tom Allan was a sixth former when he involved himself with the project. When COVID meant lockdowns, Tom was part of a small team carrying the project forward by making videos to share. When he left school to attend Sheffield University, he was invited to join the SPARK Project Steering Group, and was happy to do so. His involvement has helped to shape how the project has progressed and the approach that the project takes to engaging with people below 30 who still regard themselves as Catholic, although they may not be regular church attenders.

Having finished university, Tom returned to Leeds last Summer to take up his first job. At the Steering Group meeting on December 4^th Tom took over as Chair. The picture shows Tom with the outgoing Chair, Marg Siberry.

Marg commented “I am delighted that Tom agreed to take on the role of Chair. If we want to work with people under 30 then it just makes sense to have someone in that age group as the chair of the group that steers the project. We have a wonderful group of people - with a wide variety of experiences, skills and networks – so Tom will have plenty of support as we continue to take the project forward.”

Tom comments:

I have been truly inspired by the work coming from SPARK and I'm excited to help lead and deliver this. The work of the project wouldn't be possible without our fantastic project coordinator, Kathy Shaw, and the rest of the steering group who have enabled this project to overcome challenges and celebrate its successes. SPARK is in a place now where we're really starting to see the momentum build, as we encounter more young adults we're able to connect with and we're starting to become more recognisable and reputable throughout the Leeds Diocese for positive work and inspiring results coming from the project. I'm still a little taken aback that I was approached to take on this role, but it's something I take great pride in doing. SPARK, and the Justice and Peace Commission as a whole, have been massively supportive of myself and other young adults and I couldn't be more thankful for this opportunity. I'd also like to say a massive thank you to Marg for her leadership on the project, I'm lucky that despite stepping back from chairing, she will continue to work with us on the project's steering group as she is a valuable asset to our team.