Photo: Rachel Barber

The Salvation Army in York has been praised by the Lord Mayor of York and the Chief Executive of the City of York Council after showcasing its work in the community.

The Lord Mayor of York Councillor Brian Watson said The Salvation Army's founder William Booth had a passion for helping needy people and this ethos is richly rooted in the International Christian Church and Charity's work in York today.

Cllr Watson, who attended the recent ‘Opportunities' Open Day at York Citadel in Gilygate, said: "If we did not have organisations like The Salvation Army who are experienced in helping people with many social problems and their many volunteers who carry out this work, I don't know what state we would be in."

York Salvation Army's community programme includes a dedicated homeless project team which works together with the city council to find temporary accommodation for the city's homeless including many rough sleepers. Other elements of the project include food parcels, clothing, advice on benefits and employment and working with organisations such as York District Mind.

City of York Council Chief Executive Bill McCarthy, who also attended the event, said: "By working with The Salvation Army in partnership we are able to reach parts of the city that would be difficult to reach by ourselves."

Scores of residents and key stakeholders visited the Open Day to see how The Salvation Army works in partnership with many organisations, such as The City of York Art Gallery, and to hear personal testimony from clients who have been helped to find employment thanks to the Corps' (church) community programme.

Former client, James, spoke about how he managed to secure full time employment as an assistant chef after training and working in The Salvation Army's café in York which aims to provide value meals for visitors and needy members of the community. The luncheon club, which James was involved in, also helps bring elderly people together and give adults with learning difficulties meaningful work and the opportunity for work experience which can lead to long term employment.

James, who was homeless for two years, said: "Thanks to The Salvation Army I was able to move into my own flat get help with my finances and secure a full time job as an assistant chef. The help and support from my key worker has been tremendous - in fact I see him more as a friend."

His advice to others in a similar position is simple: "Remember never give up, fighters win!"

Community Manager Rachel Barber said the success of York Salvation Army's community programme is taking a ‘person centred approach' to helping the most vulnerable in society.

Rachel said: "We believe that by taking a person centred approach and by working in partnership to share expertise and resources we can offer a more comprehensive support package to the most needy in York. We are all about creating positive outcomes. Already this year we have helped three people find employment through training in our luncheon club. As well as forming a new partnership with Future Prospect we are looking at the possibility of a mobile unit where we can take our services to the far reaches of the community especially in cases where people cannot get to us."

Captain Sharen Furlong, leader of The Salvation Army in York with her husband Captain Glenn Furlong, said: "We hope that through our work the ‘heartbeat' of William Booth continues into the 21^st century."

--ENDS--

Notes to editors

Media enquiries:

Wayne Coles, Regional Press Officer (North), telephone: 07740 051767, email: wayne.coles@salvationarmy.org.uk

To interview Rachel Barber, please contact her on: 01904 630470.

• The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian church and registered charity, working in 117 countries, and is one of the largest and most diverse providers of social welfare. In the UK and Republic of Ireland more then 800 Salvation Army social service centres and corps (community churches) offer unconditional friendship, support and very practical help to people of all ages, backgrounds and needs. The Salvation Army Registered Charity Nos 214779, 215174, in Scotland SC009359, SC037691, and in Ireland CHY6399. For more information visit the website www.salvationarmy.org.uk
• The Salvation Army in Yorkshire brings companionship to those who are lonely through its visits to the elderly and through its day care and 31luncheon clubs. It endeavours to ease the hurt of broken families through the family tracing service. It helps the homeless rebuild their lives through its 5 homeless hostels, which provide accommodation, resettlement, rehabilitation and detox programmes. It helps people win back their self respect by the provision of community support, friendship and counselling at each of its 57 community churches (corps). It also provides much needed childcare at its million pound nursery in Leeds.