ALOVE (youthwork) Children/families Mission Development Community Services Design for life Detox/addiction services Disability Services and Health Care Elderly care Adult and Family Ministries Emergency Services Employment Plus UK Family Tracing Heritage Centre Homelessness Services Insurance (SAGIC) Lifelong learning Music Ministries Pastoral Care Unit Prison ministries Red Shield Defence Services Schools and colleges The Blue Shield Fellowship Working with other churches and faiths Special Events

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 115 countries worldwide.

As a church and registered charity, we demonstrate our 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. Recently this has included the 7th July London bombings, the devastating hurricanes in Southern USA, and the severe floods in Carlisle and Boscastle.

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
• 3,000 homeless people given food and shelter every night in 59 centres
• 776 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
• 20 Red Shield support centres for military personnel in the UK, Germany and the Falkland Islands
• 12 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

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Mission statement

The Salvation Army is a worldwide evangelical Christian Church and human service agency.

Its message is based on the Bible; its motivation is the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Its mission is to proclaim his gospel, to persuade people of all ages to become his disciples and to engage in a programme of practical concern for the needs of humanity.

Its ministry is offered to all persons, regardless of race, creed, colour or gender.