Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is one of the largest, most diverse providers
of social services in the UK after the Government. Founded in East
London in 1865, we are now working in 119 countries worldwide.
As a church and
registered charity, the Salvation
Army demonstrates its Christian principles through social
welfare provision. Worldwide there are over 1.6million members,
with programmes including homeless centres, drug rehabilitation
centres, schools, hospitals and medical centres, as well as nearly
16,000 church and community centres. The work of The Salvation Army
is funded through donations from its members, the general public
and, where appropriate, local authority and government grants.
Local Salvation Army church and community centres offer a range
of activities and services within their local communities. People
can become involved in all sorts of ways, through volunteering with
fundraising initiatives, attending church services and helping with
local activities.
The Salvation Army also supports the work of the emergency
services by providing refreshments, shelter and counselling at
major incidents.
In the UK and Republic of Ireland, The Salvation Army has
approximately:
- 50,000 members (adult, junior and adherent members)
- 4,000 employees
- 1,500 Salvation Army officers (full-time
ministers)
It provides a range of programmes and support, including:
- 3,000,000 meals served every year at community and residential
centres
- 79,000 prisoners visited each year in 134 prisons
- 3,500 homeless people helped with purpose and relationship as
well as housing support every night in 83
LifeHouse centres
- 709 local church and community centres
- 636 elderly people accommodated every night in 17 residential
centres
- 300 youth clubs providing a caring environment for young
people
- 120 drop-in centres offering support and help for people in
need
- 70 day centres for elderly and disabled people
- 50 nurseries and playgroups
- 30 Red Shield support centres for military personnel in the UK,
Germany and the Falkland Islands
- 10 people reunited every working day with their families
through the Family Tracing Service
- 6 residential centres for victims of alcohol and drug
abuse
- 6 centres for families and one community home for children
- 2 centres for people with special needs
- 2 employment training centres
- 1 centre for women escaping from domestic violence