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Aims of SOS

• To build a faith based community.
• To allow young people to participate in service projects
• To provide time to reflect, process and journal their   
      daily experiences.
• To allow the young people the opportunity to help the
      needy.
• To provide opportunities of experiential learning and  
     personal development.
• To allow time for prayer and reflection which is both    
     stimulating and reflective.



So far we have reached  the young and old, communities and parishes, projects and organisations across both the North West (SOS 1) and Greater London (SOS 2).

SOS 1


  • Savio House, Bollington
  • St Gregory’s Parish, Bollington
  • Bollington Cross Primary School
  • KRIV Project, Bollington
  • Time Out Project, Brettargh Holt
  • Holy Trinity and St George Parish, Kendal
  • St James’ Parish, Bootle

SOS 2


  • Sacred Heart Primary School, Battersea
  • Thames 21 Project, London
  • London Catholic Worker
  • Missionaries of Charity, Southwark
  • The Passage, Westminster
What actually happens on SOS?

For the past 5 years, Salesians Out Serving has gone beyond the ordinary by putting together 2 words not usually associated: WORK and RETREAT. These two words wouldn’t normally find themselves thrown together in such a manner, however the success of this miss-match has brought volunteers together from countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech, Brazil and the USA, as well as all over the United Kingdom. All these people join together each summer with the common intent of building the Kingdom of God through acts of service, in particular expressing the love of God by use of our hands, hence the motto:


“I Give My Hands To Do Your Work”


So what actually is SOS? Participants ageing from 16 come together for 10 days working together, doing jobs for people who may not normally have the time, money or physical ability such as painting, decorating, cleaning and gardening. The other element to the programme is the retreat, where participants engage in a variety of activities, including journals, Mass, time for reflection and discernment; particularly centring around the fact that nobody has come for the experience by accident, and we are all spending this time together for a reason.




The SOS experience is based on a working style developed by St John Bosco, an Italian priest and educator which nowadays is called the "Valdocco Model," after his first Oratory. He said that life could be looked at through four main areas:

Home (a place to belong)
School (a place to learn)
Playground (a place to celebrate)
Church (a place to find meaning)

Achieving a balance in these four areas results in a fulfilling and contented life, and this is how SOS works. Participating will give you sense of belonging to a community of common cause, the chance to learn about others and yourself, a place to socialise, relax and have a good time, and a chance to discover and deepen faith and understanding of God.

Salesians Out Serving is an experience any participant will never forget. It gives the individual the chance to make a difference, and also the opportunity to grow and develop, personally, socially and spiritually. A large part of the program involves manual work, which gives participants the opportunity to make a physical difference. It also gives each one the satisfaction of not only seeing the difference, but also the opportunity to be the difference.



S.O.S challenges each participant in a different way. There may be many struggles along the road, but there is a specially selected team ready to support and encourage any person who finds even the smallest difficulties. The team will also be highly involved in giving input and learning experiences, so that strong bonds will be built, and a strong community of support and friendship will be created.

“I give my haddo you w