The Catholic Student Network exists to connect, equip and empower Catholic university students across England and Wales so that they can build flourishing Catholic communities where they are and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Universities provide a unique space of exploration for students and we believe that the beauty of the Catholic faith and welcoming Catholic student communities should be there for all to discover.
Our vision is to see Catholic students raised up as missionary disciples, leaving higher education with a deeper awareness of God’s call on their life and going on to be leaders in the Church.
We became an official charity in 2021, however, we have been running events and online campaigns since 2017. CSN is also a member of CYMFed, the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation of England and Wales.
Our team is made up of students, recent graduates and people working in university chaplaincies in England & Wales, who are passionate about helping students to grow in their Catholic faith and build flourishing communities at university. Scroll down to meet us!
We invest in student leadership by empowering student Project Officers to run the Catholic Student Network online platform and events during the academic year.
Iona has worked for CSN in Communications since March last year, and she volunteered for us in her first year at university alongside her role as CathSoc Secretary. She has recently finished a degree in Spanish and Italian at the University of Bristol; during her time there she was very active in CathSoc and lived in the Catholic Chaplaincy for a year. Iona looks forward to continuing to work in Catholic youth ministry.
James is Head of the CSN Mental Health Project, alongsidebeing an online tutor. He recently finished a BSc in Biochemistry and Geneticsfrom the University of Sheffield and is beginning an MSc in BiochemicalEngineering. Whilst in Sheffield, James played a key role in the CatholicSociety for two years. He is currently involved with The Ascent and Youth 2000.
Jasmine is Mission Coordinator for CSN. She recently finished an MA in Bioethics and Medical Law from St Mary’s University in Twickenham, and whilst at university, she was involved in the leadership of the Catholic Society for three years. Jasmine is currently involved with theASCENT, CELEBRATE Trust, and Stay Awake.
Ben is on our board of trustees; he recently graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Masters in Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, and now works as an engineering project manager. He is a leading member of the Catholic youth ministry organisations The Ascent and Joel’s Bar.
Daisy, one of our trustees, is a recent graduate from the University of Birmingham, where she was Chair of Birmingham Catholic Society, involved in setting up the pro-life and SVP societies and achieved a Master’s in International Peacebuilding. Before university, Daisy served as a missionary with NET Ministries in the US and she is actively involved with Youth 2000 and The Ascent as a leader.
Chris, another of our trustees, has recently graduated with a Masters in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge and is now working in a start-up company that is focused on productivity and time management. He has been involved in Catholic Youth Ministry for the past six years and is currently a leader for The Ascent and a volunteer for CAFOD’s Theology Department.
Mary, also a trustee, is the Retreat Development and Outreach Coordinator for the Hexham & Newcastle Youth Ministry Team. Prior to this, Mary was lay chaplain at the University of Sunderland and studied Pastoral Ministry with the Loyola Institute at the University of Chicago. Mary's roots are in the Midlands, where she studied BSc Psychology at the University of Birmingham.
Adam, another of our trustees, has come full circle, having helped form CSN in its infancy. Day-to-day he works in pension advisory, advising corporates, and charities (including universities), and his financial background is invaluable support as CSN enters a new growth phase. Adam studied mathematics at the University of Bath, where he was Treasurer at the Catholic Society; he also spent his placement year in Birmingham, where he became an honorary member of the Brum CathSoc.
If you are a Catholic student leader, don't miss out on our Catholic Student Leadership Summit, which will take place on 15-17 September this year. To find out more, click the link below!
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