PRESS RELEASE - 13 September 2002
from The Salvation Army, UK Territory

London's Burning stars help launch appeal

Two of the longest-running stars from LWT’s 'London’s Burning' have helped to launch The Salvation Army’s annual fundraising appeal this week in central London. The appeal is launched nationwide on Saturday 14^th September 2002 and aims to raise £3million to support and maintain The Salvation Army’s social service and emergency relief work in the UK.

As the largest single provider of social services in the UK after the Government, the Army’s initiatives range from substance misuse centres and centres for families to youth clubs and luncheon clubs for the elderly. A key part of the Army’s work in the UK is providing practical support to the emergency services at both national disasters and localised accidents.

Michael Garner, who plays Sub officer Geoffrey Pearce, said, "Don't forget - when The Salvation Army envelope comes through your door, think of the help they provide to prevent homelessness, drug addiction and loneliness." "Also remember the fire crews and emergency workers they support all year round," added Glen Murphy, who plays fire-fighter George Green.

The Army currently has some 20 vehicles and teams equipped to attend major incidents such as road accidents, fires, floods and bombings. Vehicle teams are made up of both Salvation Army officers and trained volunteers who are on call around the clock. Individual emergency programmes operate in Salvation Army divisions (regions) across the country and are structured to respond to the specific needs of a particular area. Incidents that have involved The Salvation Army include being present at the Paddington rail crash, the Docklands and Bishopsgate bombings, the Kegworth air disaster and the Lockerbie plane crash.

Major Bill Cochrane from The Salvation Army comments:

"Emergency response is an important part of our work — at a local, national and international level. Events such as the destruction of the World Trade Centre really bring home the need to provide practical support to emergency services and their crews. Our emergency vehicles are equipped with the resources needed at sites of emergencies - fires, floods or train crashes — and range from food and blankets to generators and safety kit. We also find that emergency services workers greatly value the chance to chat to someone else, particularly at more traumatic incidents."

The Salvation Army continues to face a deficit in its social services provision which, together with its emergency service programmes, includes 50 homeless centres, 21 centres for the elderly and 8 family centres. This is due to the rising cost of providing high-standard services in the community, and could impact the development of both existing and new projects.

Major Cochrane continues;

"As well as helping emergency crews, we are called on to provide evacuation support, food distribution, shelter, family rehabilitation and welfare. This requires funding so the Annual Appeal is absolutely vital in terms of sustaining our programmes. Reduced funds this year could threaten our relief programmes which could be a major loss to our community and emergency services across the country who rely on Salvation Army support."

The Salvation Army generates its income partly through Government funding and donations from its own church membership. However it is also heavily reliant on the generosity of the general public. Nationally, it also operates a family tracing service, counselling services and almost 900 local church and community centres.

 

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