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Major Donald Montgomery at Altcar training camp Receiving the Company Commander’s Coin for giving welfare support during the camp
with the splendid young people and see them grow into adulthood. I pray that my presence and availability will encourage them in their exploration of faith issues.’
Dean says he has always been well received by staff and cadets. The other chaplains have had similar experiences.
Donald says: ‘In my engagement with army cadets and adult volunteers and staff I am warmly received and welcomed. It is a blessing to be able to offer support to those of all faiths and none, particularly at the annual camp, where I was able to have many supportive conversations with a broad spectrum of personnel.’
‘The sea cadets and staff are all welcoming and open,’ says David, ‘although many of the young people are uncertain as to the role of the chaplain, especially as they have little experience of church or religion. The instructors, most of whom have served in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines, have had positive experiences of padres or “bish” – a colloquial term for chaplain – and seek to include me, giving suggestions and guidance on my pastoral role. The naval tradition of chaplains not carrying any rank but adopting the rank of the person to whom they are talking helps me get alongside cadets and adult instructors.’
Liz finds that the air cadets and staff also respond to her with respect: ‘It took me a while to get used to being called “Ma’am”. At first I felt a little uncomfortable with it, but soon came to accept it – and nothing thrilled my heart more than walking through the town at lunchtime as hordes of schoolchildren passed by on their lunch break and hearing a voice across the street call out “You OK, Ma’am?” much to the surprise of their friends. That taught me a lot about acceptance and just how quickly these wonderful young people not only accepted me but took me into their hearts, as much as I had taken them into mine.
‘While I was careful not to force my beliefs on these impressionable, often questioning young people, there was a sense that many were searching. Whenever pocket Bibles were offered to new recruits or special First World War commemorative John’s Gospels were made available, cadets were pleased to receive them. One cadet, hearing of how a Bible in a young airman’s pocket spared his life from a bullet, proudly proclaimed among his fellow cadets: “I’m putting this in my pocket, Ma’am, and will carry it always!”’
Liz thinks chaplaincy is something more people should consider, especially within military youth organisations.
‘I promise that you will get far more for your investment than you could possibly begin to imagine,’ she enthuses.
‘Chaplaincy is incarnational,’ concludes David. ‘It’s about showing and carrying Christ where people are and then realising and discovering that he is already at work in their lives. For me, chaplaincy is an expression of all that we believe as Salvationists concerning sacramental living and our lives being outward and visible expressions of inward grace.’
Saving veterans’ lives
Shanelle Manderson finds out how a Salvation Army partnership is supporting veterans in civilian life
MILITARY service is difficult, demanding and dangerous but returning to civilian life also poses challenges for the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Dawn Turner, a mother of two serving soldiers (one now a veteran), understands these difficulties well.
‘I worked as a nurse on the military ward at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham. While the physical needs of patients were tended to, the mental health needs were put on the back burner,’ she recalls.
After 25 years in the nursing and caring profession Dawn went back to university to study criminology, with the aim of rebuilding rehabilitation programmes for veterans in prison. However, during her final year of studying, her son, who had just left
We want veterans to get a sense of belonging and purpose back
the army, had to leave his home and job after his marriage broke down. He moved back in with Dawn and had a breakdown; he was suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘We couldn’t get an appointment to gain support for at least six months,’ Dawn explains, ‘and that took me and my partner, Perminder Kundi (Bob), down a different path. We decided to open a charity to support all veterans in civilian life, and Stepway was born.’
Founded in June 2019, Stepway received its charitable incorporated organisation status later that year. It is run by volunteers but receives funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust to run projects.
After partnering The Salvation Army in Worcester, Stepway opened its first drop-in centre using one of the rooms at the corps. Veterans could meet likeminded people there, grab something to eat and share conversation. Since then, Stepway has gone on to expand its services and the areas it serves.
As well as covering the Worcestershire area, the drop-in centres in Worcester and Kidderminster work with a range of charities, including the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs and Headway, so that support and advice
