The purpose of the Society of St Vincent de Paul is to provide direct aid to those who suffer, and to help individuals reduce and even eliminate the causes of their suffering, themselves. Society members use their own resources, sharing not only possessions but the valuable gift of their presence.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris in 1833 by a university student named Frederick Ozanam, now Blessed Frederick Ozanam. Today the Society includes almost 900,000 members spread among 46,000 confraternities in 130 countries of five continents.

The society has been active in England and Wales for some 150 years. In the Nottingham Diocese there are about 700 members in 60 Conferences, practising Catholics who serve their needy neighbours by personal contact and through special apostolates such as support for deaf people, prison visiting etc.