Called to Be a Soldier: Chapter

LIFEHOUSE

FUNDRAISING

CHESTER-LE-STREET Corps member Alan Taylor has organised charity concerts for a number of years to raise funds for worthy causes. This year the Durham-based St Cuthbert’s Hospice was chosen. Hosted in the hall, the large audience was treated to an excellent evening of music conducted by Houghton Brass leader, Michael Franey. Four guest vocalists also delighted those present with their contributions. Items included the band and the singers uniting to perform ‘One Day More’ from the musical Les Misérables. The band’s contributions included other songs from the shows and Alan performed an Eb bass solo, ‘The Bare Necessities’. Army compositions included Darren Shaw’s ‘Guardian of my Soul’. Pictured is Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, presenting a cheque for £2,042 from the proceeds of the performance to hospice representative Ann Sultman. – GC

MEETING

HAMILTON Corps members gathered for a day to study the Old Testament through physical expressions and movements as part of the Walk Through the Bible project. A group of women from a church in Callander also joined in, and everyone was enthusiastic to learn. All agreed that it was a great day of fellowship and fun, while gaining important Bible knowledge. Pictured is the ‘Offerings and Feasts’ action. – JT

EVENT

PARKHEAD Bellshill Band presented an evening of music to raise funds for the Army’s response to the Ukraine crisis. Beginning with the ‘State Anthem of Ukraine’, items included ‘Be Still’, ‘And Can It Be?’ and ‘Triumphant Prospect’. Bandsmen Chris Keane and Cameron Shanks, who had previously volunteered in Ukraine, brought a Ukraine presentation. Soloists were Bandsman Alex Ramsay (cornet), with ‘Glory to His Name’, YP Band Leader Chris Shanks (euphonium), with ‘Locomotion’, and Songster Leader Marjory Watson, who sang ‘Glory to His Name’. During the singing of ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’ a collection for the work in Ukraine raised £705. Allan Scott testified and Assistant Band Sergeant Dorothy Neil brought a devotional thought. – AD

BookTrust NI and Thorndale Family Centre team up to inspire love of reading

BELFAST

BOOKTRUST NI teamed up with Thorndale Lifehouse to provide reading packs for vulnerable families. BookTrust NI promotes reading for pleasure across communities and is bringing the joy of books to children at the centre.

The centre provides support for struggling families, including a homelessness resettlement scheme and a parenting assessment programme.

Director of BookTrust NI Chris Eisenstadt said: ‘We know the benefits children and families get from developing a love of books early in life. This partnership with The Salvation Army enables us to put books directly into the hands of families. We’ve included a mix of old and new favourites and some in dual language representing a diverse range of cultural backgrounds.’

Chaplain Lieutenant Amanda Sewell said: ‘We’re delighted to be working with BookTrust NI to be able to give our families some much-needed inspiration and joy through the stories in these books.’

The centre plans to run a book club and reading groups to encourage families to read, not only to overcome the reading gap caused by the pandemic, but also to promote wellbeing. The dual language books also encourage children to continue to use and develop their first language as well as English. – AS

MEETING

MALTON A brand new weekly after-school Messy Church has opened with 21 children participating alongside their parents and grandparents. After a snack they looked at the question, ‘Who is Jesus?’ which was explored through crafts, Lego challenges and Godly Play. Great fun was had by all! – EB

EVENT

PRESENTATION

BOOTH HOUSE The Lifehouse in Swindon has been working in partnership with the Devon and Wiltshire Fire Service for residents to complete the Spectra course. The development programme uses firefighting activities and the mentoring role of fire service staff to encourage, support and develop life and work skills within a positive environment. Courses offer an engaging programme of activity with individualised learning plans that provide challenge and support to gain new skills, confidence, self-worth and a plan for their next steps. Three residents completed and received their certificates during a passing out parade in May, completing two demonstrations. The first involved rescuing casualties from a road traffic collision, taking turns to use cutting equipment, before securing the casualties alongside paramedics. The second saw the team rescue a mother and child from a smoke-filled building, with residents controlling the water supply, arranging equipment, climbing ladders and entering the building. The individuals then had the opportunity to meet the adult community learning team to explore further training. – JO

EVENT

DROITWICH SPA Over a number of months, members of the Droitwich Salvation Army Preschool and Friendship Group have met to play games, engage in craft activities and, most significantly, talk together. The Platinum Jubilee provided the perfect opportunity for a right royal intergenerational celebration. Everyone played pass the parcel, the children asked the grown-ups about their memories of the Coronation and other aspects of their life, and shared what they hoped to do when they were older. The children had decorated cakes, there was a visit from ‘the Queen’ and everyone sang the national anthem and other songs together. – MM

EVENT

SUNDERLAND MONKWEARMOUTH Jubilee celebrations began at the corps with the lighting of a beacon. This was jointly undertaken by the five Army corps and centres in Sunderland and organised by Swan Lodge Lifehouse. The corps then celebrated with a Jubilee meal attended by more than 70 people. Everyone enjoyed a Jubilee celebration cake made by corps officer Major Elizabeth McCaw-Aldworth. – DM-A MIDDLESBROUGH CITADEL As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the Let’s Connect group shared memories and memorabilia of the Queen and royal events, such as Trooping the Colour and royal garden parties they had attended. Cards sent from Her Majesty to corps members on their golden wedding anniversaries were also shown. New members have joined the group recently, with some coming through the work of the corps charity shop. – KC

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CHESTER-LE-STREET The parent-and-toddler group members celebrated the Platinum Jubilee by making crowns so they could pretend to be royal for the morning. They celebrated by singing songs, including ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’. – GC