New Futures

In July a New Futures Project was launched. This is run by Falkirk Corps,  and provides a variety of services, including a soup kitchen, community cafe and furniture shop. The biggest help it is providing is to those who are trying to find work or needing some assistance to improve their chances of finding a job.

The project is currently operating from a unit in The Howgate Centre, Falkirk, opposite the food court, but hopes to move to the first floor of the former Co-op building on the High Street, opposite Callendar Square soon.

Louise McKnight, project manager, who runs the initiative with the help of six staff and several volunteers, said "Our aim is to help people move forward and give them a goal in life, whether it is helping them prepare a CV, advice on interview skills or taking part in a course that will make them more employable. At the moment, we are seeing around 25 people a day come through the door. Hopefully, in our new premises we will have even more space to expand what we offer."

Those using the service have free access to computers, as well as the support of the team running the project.

Courses, open to 10 people at a time, are running two and three times a week, and include elementary food hygiene, health and safety, risk assessment and safe manual handling awareness.

Louise added "If we can give someone help that gives them a better chance of getting a job that's a positive outcome". We also provide support and are working in partnership with other organisations to help with issues such as homelessness and drug and alcohol counselling."

Remembrance Poem

Remember Me
(The voice of the dead)

Remember me
Duty called and I went to war
Though I'd never fired a gun before
I paid the price for your new day
As all my dreams were blown away

Remember me
We all stood true as whistles blew
And faced the shell and stench of Hell
Now battle's done, there is no sound
Our bones decay beneath the ground
We cannot see, or smell, or hear
There is no death, or hope or fear
 
Remember me
Once we, like you, would laugh and talk
And run and walk and do the things that you all do
But now we lie in rows so neat
Beneath the soil, beneath your feet

Remember me
In mud and gore and the blood of war
We fought and fell and move no more
Remember me, I am not dead
I'm just a voice within your head

Harry Riley

Commonwealth Games and Anti-Human Trafficking

During the summer there was a lot of publicity, excitement and support around the Commonwealth Games and they were good to watch and enjoy. It was also great to see how the Salvation Army brought together volunteers from various parts of Scotland to form Glasgow 2014 Mission teams who were actively involved with numerous community programmes.

I was a volunteer taking part in an activity which is one that a lot of people find either abhorrent or uncomfortable to hear or speak about. It is the Anti-Human Trafficking campaign. There were over 150 volunteers from all the Christian denominations in Scotland supporting the More than Gold campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking. We did this through the UN Gift Boxes which were strategically placed in Glasgow city centre.

 

 

The large, walk-in boxes were intended to symbolise trafficking with each one providing information and first-hand accounts and pictures from victims inside. Each box highlighted a specific aspect of human trafficking - domestic servitude (green), forced street crime (pink), begging and forced labour (blue), sexual exploitation (red). The boxes looked very attractive and inviting which is the whole essence of the human trafficking scenario. The victims are enticed, sold, forced into a situation which in some cases appears to be the answer to their dreams and problems; only to find they are trapped and become victims of human slavery.

 

It is a modern day horrific crime where millions of lives are being destroyed or are at risk. These victims have no voice and More than Gold together with the many other Christian supporters used the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to gather signatories to petition against human trafficking. Over 16,000 signatures were obtained from members of the public and the boxes significantly raised their awareness of this crime against humanity. The petition will be presented to the Scottish Government to ensure that a Scottish Human Trafficking Bill addresses the vital issue of trafficking within business supply chains.

Since July 2011 The Salvation Army and its partners have supported over 800 victims of trafficking thanks to a £2million fund from the Ministry of Justice. The Salvation Army has committed to raise around £200,000 a year to run the Anti-Human Trafficking Support Programme. This vital programme works together with local authorities, other agencies engaged in anti-human trafficking, the police and other faith organisations. Further information about this work is available online:

http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/Anti_Human_Trafficking_Victim_Support_Programme

A Human Trafficking leaflet is also available that helps someone ‘read the signs’ and gives clear guidance as to what they should do. This is available to download:

http://www.scotland.police.uk/assets/pdf/174967/human-trafficking?view=Standard

 

Please continue to pray about this global issue and let us be the voice for those who have no voice.

 

"Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth:Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me'". Matt 25:40 The Message

 
 

Major Kathy Betteridge

I am

the candle of the Lord, says the Joy Webb classic.

We live in a world that is increasingly dark, a world where millions of pounds will have been spent this past week on decorations and costumes to celebrate darkness. A world that is filled with fear, with hate, with wars, a world where many go hungry and have no place to sleep. A world that can at times appear to have no hope. But the darkness shall not prevail. We are not alone, we need not fear the darkness.

In a completely dark room even the smallest of light can make a big difference. As the words of this song remind us we are called to be light in a dark world, we are called to make a difference, to be a candle of the Lord, to shine together to dispel the darkness.

May we be candles of the Lord this weekend and always.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

Eagle Lodge

After 2 1/2 years of planning, blood, sweat and tears, maybe some fire and certainly lots of prayer a new sensory garden has been opened at Eagle Lodge Care Home. This will prove beneficial to all, but especially to those residents with dementia.

Eagle Lodge provides care to 33 older people, some with dementia, who can no longer live independently. All  our staff play a central role in creating a positive culture where residents’ rights are promoted, ensuring they are active participants in care decisions. Families also work with staff to ensure care is best tailored to the needs of their loved ones.

Daily, residents can take part in meaningful activities with the purpose of enhancing quality of life and maintaining physical and mental well-being. Activities are designed to be creative and to stimulate thinking or memory, such as music, art, flower-arranging, chair exercise and walking. Other tasks support everyday living – folding washing and setting tables. Residents can also participate in organised activities from watching films to singing or enjoying shopping trips.

The care offered engages the whole person and addresses their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Residents and families are encouraged to make choices which enhance and enrich their life, to participate in activities which bring them fulfilment and to share socially which eases possible isolation

It is Well with My Soul

A song for the weekend.




A reinterpretation of an old classic - It is Well with My Soul by Stuart Townend.

What are your thoughts on worship music - do you like modern adaptations of old classics or do you prefer the originals?

Autumn

I was on holiday last week and driving home through the Lake District was struck by the lovely colours of the trees. Autumn - a time of change, a time when God's glory is displayed in the wondrous colours of the trees around us. Autumn - a time when the clocks go back and the nights get longer. A time for reflecting back over the last year and a time for starting to look forward to the coming new year. A time for change and for new starts.

The blog has been rather quiet over the past year - but that does not mean that The Salvation Army has been quiet over the past year, nor has the work of Mission in Scotland. There has been lots happening over the past months and we are aiming to start posting again on a regular basis.

So what would you like to see on this blog, post any suggestions you may have in the comments section below please.