Changing
lives, every day
The difference you helped us make in 2024
A MESSAGE FROM LIEUT-COLONEL NICK COKE
Secretary for Communications
In a world where many despair, The Salvation Army is a beacon of hope, working every day to make the world a kinder place.
In a world afflicted with so many problems, it’s so easy for people to lose hope. In the past year we have seen people struggle with the rising cost of living. We have seen families going hungry, and homelessness on the rise. We have seen worrying levels of drug and alcohol addiction. And yet, for so many people, The Salvation Army shines bright as a beacon of hope. We inspire people to believe their lives can be better. We offer them practical help that can overcome even the most desperate problems. In this report, you will read some examples of how we’ve worked every day over the past year to change people’s lives. Thank you for all you did to support that vital work.
One of The Salvation Army’s greatest strengths is our local roots. Across the country we run over 600 church and community centres, as well as a huge range of projects and activities aimed at helping the most marginalised people in our society. Alongside this wealth of community activity is the specialist help we provide through our Lifehouses (residential centres for people experiencing homelessness), care homes for older people, employment advice services, addiction services, and debt advice.
But what makes The Salvation Army truly unique is the passion that drives us. Love is at the heart of our Christian faith. We believe that every human being is precious and special. That’s why we never give up on people. That’s why there is no limit on our ambitions for the people we help. And it’s why we hope and pray that you will continue to support us.
Lieut-Colonel Nick Coke
On behalf of The Salvation Army
Making people matter
Human need comes in many different forms, but The Salvation Army’s response is always the same. We see the people behind the problems, we see their potential, and we aim to give everyone the opportunity to live their lives to the full.
‘It’s heartwarming to be able to help so many people.’
Across the UK, volunteers play a vital role in keeping The Salvation Army’s community services running. Christine and Doris have been volunteering at our community café at the Salvation Army Church in Cwmbran, Wales, for three years now.
Doris says: ‘It’s heartwarming to be able to help so many people. Some don’t have a home to go to, so this is a haven for them. Somewhere safe and warm.’
Christine adds: ‘Often our visitors have nothing. So we make sure they go away with a bag of goodies, which could include sandwiches, crisps, a drink, as well as some other useful items.
‘We get a lot of people feeling lonely who never see anyone else. For those couple of hours, they can just relax and enjoy some company. Some people don’t get any company. It can be a lonely day. But hopefully not here.’
During 2024 ...
No one should die of cold on the streets. During the winter of 2023/24, The Salvation Army worked with local councils to prevent rough sleepers from freezing in extreme winter weather. As part of the warning system known as the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, we provided emergency beds and outreach support to people with nowhere to stay. We made space available at our Lifehouses (residential centres for people experiencing homelessness) while also opening our community churches to offer shelter, hot food and clothing.
On average, five children in a class of 30 are likely to have a mental health problem. The Starfish mentoring programme is The Salvation Army’s successful response to this mental health crisis. Starfish is offered in schools to 9 to 16-year-olds, free of charge. It particularly benefits young people with behavioural, social or emotional issues, and those at risk of exclusion. One teacher said: ‘After seeing the confidence our children have gained, I would recommend this programme to any school.’
Mending shattered lives
Homelessness, mental health issues and addictions are some of the problems that can destroy people’s lives. But The Salvation Army is here to mend shattered lives – not just providing shelter for homeless people, but helping people get back on their feet after terrible experiences.
‘I’d be lost without The Salvation Army. It’s one big family.’
Beth was in a relationship from the age of 16, and when she was 20 she and her partner had a baby. Then her partner developed a gambling addiction and the relationship went badly wrong. She says: ‘He gambled away what money we had, so I couldn’t pay the rent and we were evicted from our home.’
Left alone to look after her daughter, Beth spent some time in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. Then The Salvation Army offered her a place at one of our Lifehouses (residential centres for people experiencing homelessness). She remembers: ‘We walked through the door, and it was welcoming, homely.’
She adds: ‘The Salvation Army is one big family. I’ve learned so much here, including how to budget and pay my own bills. I am hoping to join their employment service so I can get back into work. I’d be lost without The Salvation Army.’
During 2024 ...
The Salvation Army in Wrexham and Rhyl, north Wales, is working with HSBC and another homeless charity to help people experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives. The scheme allows people to use The Salvation Army’s address when they are applying for a bank account. Alison, from our Employment Plus service, says: ‘Having a bank account makes it easier to access the things people need to get back on their feet, including receiving benefits, paying rent and bills and getting paid a wage.’
Recent figures show that drug overdoses are at their highest levels since records began. One way we are helping to tackle this problem is through our Harm Reduction strategy. Lee, who leads our addiction services, says: ‘Our approach meets substance abuse with kindness and compassion. This has helped to reduce overdose deaths in our services by 50 per cent in the last five years.’ All our addiction services are now equipped with naloxone, a potentially life-saving medication which staff can use when appropriate to treat an overdose.
Thousands of people are facing hardship every day. Inflation makes it harder to afford daily necessities like food and clothing. That’s why The Salvation Army is working to feed hungry people and help them lift themselves out of poverty.
‘ It’s a struggle to buy food and clothes. But The Salvation Army has helped a lot.’
Catherine is a single parent with four young children. Because of her health condition, she is unable to work. It’s hard for her to make ends meet, especially in the school holidays when free school meals aren’t available. Fortunately, she discovered the holiday club that we run in her area.
Catherine says: ‘The Salvation Army has opened my children up to a whole new world. They’ve enjoyed craft activities, gardening and sports. They’re able to get outside with other children, stay active and healthy, breathe fresh air, gain new skills and have lots of fun.’
Not only that, but the children are fed. ‘They’re given breakfast, lunch and snacks which takes the pressure off me,’ says Catherine. She adds: ‘When you don’t have family around and you’re on your own, it can be really isolating. But The Salvation Army has ensured we aren’t forgotten about. They’ve changed our lives and I’m so grateful.’
Confronting poverty
During
2024 ...
In Camberwell, London, The Salvation Army runs a Baby Bank for hard-up parents and carers. It’s the place to come for buggies, cots, clothing, nappies, formula and toys. It’s also a centre for the large Latin American population in the area. Parents of all backgrounds are welcome to bring their children to our parent-andtoddler group. Valentina, who leads the local Salvation Army, says: ‘The sense of community here is beautiful. People use the Baby Bank and then return to recycle what they have used.’
In Keighley, West Yorkshire, The Salvation Army runs cookery classes to help people make healthy meals on a budget. Our Victory Programme is a six-week course which teaches simple skills and helps inexperienced cooks gain confidence. One participant is 26-year-old Millie who says: ‘This place is incredible. I’ve made new friends and learned new skills. I struggle with money, but I do batch cooking now, which saves me a lot.’
Setting people free
We live in a society where people are exploited and oppressed in many ways, not all of which are visible even to their friends and neighbours. Whether it’s modern slavery, political oppression or the heavy burden of debt, we are here to help them find freedom.
‘Today I can speak to you because of what I received from The Salvation Army, and I speak not as a victim but as a survivor.’
Franck was promised a high-paying job in the UK before he left his home in Central Africa. But when he arrived, he was driven to an overcrowded house with more than 25 people, his passport was taken away, and he was forced into exploitative work as a care worker. ‘I worked from six in the morning until 10 at night with no break,’ he recalls. ‘At the end of the month I hardly got any pay.’
Franck’s captors abused and threatened him. He was left afraid and isolated. ‘I knew no one here,’ he said. Franck didn’t realise that what he was experiencing was ‘modern slavery’ until another housemate called the police six months later.
Thankfully, the police rescued them and told Franck The Salvation Army was going to look after him. It was a huge relief to him. Now living in a safe house, Franck is rebuilding his life with support. ‘The staff here respect me. The most important thing is that I now feel that I’m a human being again,’ he says.
During 2024 ...
Debt is a growing burden for many in the UK. In 2023/24 our 25 debt advice centres supported 3,534 individuals and families by offering them practical advice and help, including negotiating with their creditors. A growing number of Salvation Army centres now offer a joined-up service to help people with financial problems, including money management classes, cookery classes, and employment advice to help them improve their incomes.
The Salvation Army’s Thorndale Family Centre in Belfast has been praised by a family who had to flee their homes after war broke out in Yemen. Abdul, aged 34, came to Belfast after a dangerous journey to escape the Houthi rebels and has now been reunited with his wife and three children. At Thorndale they are free and safe while they plan for their future. Abdul says: ‘There is a lot of support for my kids here. The staff treat us in a beautiful way. Without them, life would be hard.’
It is said that when our Founder, William Booth, was told by his son about people sleeping rough on the banks of the Thames, his response was: ‘Go and do something.’ Today that ‘can-do’ spirit is still at the heart of all our work. ‘ I’m going the right way, thanks to The Salvation Army.’
When a young man came to us with addiction and mental health problems, we didn’t just help him overcome them, but helped him gain a new sense of purpose.
At the age of 30, Lewis had a breakdown and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He didn’t know how to cope, and turned to drugs as a way of improving his state of mind – but, of course, it didn’t. Instead, his condition grew worse.
That began to change when he was offered a place at Bramwell House, a Salvation Army Lifehouse (residential centre) in Blackburn. There he had a stable environment where he could be treated for his addiction and start to improve his mental health.
Now Lewis is a regular volunteer at the Lifehouse, where he cooks 60 breakfasts for homeless people several days a week. He says: ‘Volunteering keeps my mind busy and I’m not thinking about drugs. Since I started volunteering, I’ve gained respect from my peers. I’m going the right way, thanks to The Salvation Army.’
Belief in action
During 2024 ...
When Storm Jocelyn hit the Isle of Lewis, north-west Scotland, in January, The Salvation Army immediately went into action. As storms brought chaos, a road accident left the only north-south road closed in both directions for several hours, leaving many adults and children stranded. But by opening our local hall to people needing food and a warm, dry place to stay, The Salvation Army provided a much-needed refuge for travellers at a terrible time.
In June, we hosted drop-in events at seven locations in England, Scotland and Wales where local jobseekers could talk to employability experts. For many who attended, these events were the first step towards finding work and gaining a sense of pride and purpose in their lives. Our Employment Plus service particularly helps people who were unable to search for work in the past due to health problems, disability or homelessness.
A year of practical, life-changing action
Inspired by our Christian faith, The Salvation Army has continued to work hard over the past year to serve people in need without discrimination. Here are just some of the amazing things we have done, with your support:
In 2023/24 The Salvation Army provided over 2,920 beds each night for people experiencing homelessness.
As a charity, we aim to make the most effective use of your donations.
91p in every £1 donated to The Salvation Army goes towards our work for people in need.
Thank you for all your warmhearted support and for the lives you are helping to change.
The Salvation Army, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ
Telephone: 020 7367 4800
Email: fr@salvationarmy.org.uk
Website: salvationarmy.org.uk
A Christian Church and Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359.
The case studies in this report reflect the true stories of people that we help every day. Names have been changed and models used in some photographs to protect the privacy of the people concerned.
This review cost just 10p to produce.
We ran around 300 clubs and programmes for older people. More than 180,000 older people attended a weekly club or programme.
9,818 survivors of modern slavery received support to recover from exploitation and rebuild their lives.
We helped 3,534 individuals and families to manage their debt problems through 25 debt advice centres across the UK.
Over 6,300 people contacted or started on our Employment Plus programme last year with over 1,100 people finding work.
Our 26 emergency response vehicles responded to more than 300 call-outs to assist the emergency services in crises such as fires and floods.