The current Caritas Manager, Deborah Fisher, is retiring at the end of August and Simon Giarchi has been appointed as the new Head of Caritas Diocese of Plymouth, with the aim of growing the Mission of Charity across the diocese, building on the last five years’ work by Deborah.
Simon is joining Caritas Diocese of Plymouth following nearly 20 years of service as CAFOD’s manager and coordinator for the diocese. Across his two decades he has worked with many clergy and parishioners from across the five deaneries of the diocese. He is well known to many people here in the diocese through his time at CAFOD but also from his deep roots in the Catholic community here, having been brought up in an active Catholic Christian family, studied in Catholic schools, and attended parishes across the region. He is a former pupil of several Catholic schools in Plymouth and been a parishioner in Holy Trinity and Cathedral parishes in the city too.
After school Simon began his working life as a media professional, he interned at the Northern School of Film and Television in Leeds, was an apprentice in Television Production in Padova Italy, completed a HND in Film and Television Production at Bournemouth Filmschool and a degree at the Arts University Plymouth. As well as his studies he worked in film development, some TV Shows and a radio show. Following a calling to change his career to the charity sector Simon fundraised for various national charities such as Help the Aged (now Age UK), Action Aid, Save the Children, Oxfam, Crisis, Shelter and the Samaritans. After this he became CAFOD’s first Diocesan Manager for the Diocese of Plymouth, when the CAFOD Southwest Region was split to follow the diocesan structures of Plymouth and Clifton.
Simon is a passionate advocate for working for the common good. He is steeped in Catholic Social Teaching and has worked closely with our bishops, episcopal vicars, formation teams and catechists to craft resources, reflection guides, produce presentations and initiatives to inspire, educate and empower the adults and young people of the diocese to put their faith into action. This work on CST has grown over the years and has resonated in the diocese, particularly through Live Simply and promotion of Papal Encyclicals such as Laudato Si and Deus Caritas Est.
Prior to the establishment of Caritas Diocese of Plymouth, Simon worked alongside Mary Conway and the Justice and Peace Commission and helped support the diocese to take environmental action alongside local and regional partner organisations and stakeholders, such as Devon Church & Society Group, Plymouth Green Churches Action Group, Transforming Plymouth Together, Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council, Plymouth Centre for Faith and Cultural Diversity, Vinvolved and Citizens UK.
Throughout Simon’s two decades of work at CAFOD he has helped to build a thriving and energised volunteer network across the diocese and is looking forward to bringing these skills to the work of Caritas Diocese of Plymouth alongside our inspirational volunteers, staff and network members.
Simon will be joining Caritas Diocese of Plymouth in mid August. If you would like to get in touch please email caritas@prcdtr.org.uk