Bustling charity shop is welcoming hub for Thirsk community

It’s a bustling retail outlet in the market town of Thirsk, but The Salvation Army charity shop also has a heart for community and has become a hub of support for its customers.

In this North Yorkshire town, the church and charity operates as a ‘fresh expression’ where Salvation Army leaders do not have a traditional church base, but are embedded in the community, led by what that community needs and what God is calling them to. 

For Majors Paula and Ian Haylett, who have led Thirsk Salvation Army for nine years, this means the work is diverse, from running kids’ community wardrobe events, a mums’ walking group, hosting bible study at their home, and volunteering in the charity shop, which is run by The Salvation Army’s trading arm SATCoL.  

The charity shop, with its recognisable red shield, is a first port of call for many people who need support, with charity shop manager Claire Fairweather and her team working closely with, and regularly signposting people to Paula and Ian. 

Claire said: “We’re a charity shop providing items at a good price, but we’re also a community. You feel like you're not just selling, you're doing something that is worthwhile and hands on. 

“We often get people who are struggling and we can give them clothes and new items like socks and underwear, or food vouchers. We then refer them onto Paula and Ian, and they will help them with what else they might need.” 

How much this support is appreciated has been shown through the donations that come through the door – recently they received a gift after providing clothes to the police for a reconstruction of an accident.

Claire said: “Months later, the police officer came back and told us about a man who had been homeless and had sadly died, leaving behind about £400. His family said they wanted that money to go to charity so the officer, remembering how we helped with the reconstruction and knowing The Salvation Army helps people experiencing homelessness, donated to us. It was very generous of his family and the policeman to think of us.” 

When Paula started volunteering, she was also struck by the kindness of the people who come through the doors. 

Paula said: “One moment that has stayed with me is a man who had experienced homelessness and had been helped by The Salvation Army in the past, but was now in a good place. Giving us £100, he said ‘you've helped me and I've become a Christian. I've sorted my bills and this is what I've got left over and I want to give it to you so you can help someone else in the same way that I was helped’.

“The whole shop watched my exchange with him and were in tears, talking to each other about what a lovely thing they’d witnessed. It was quite something. He still regularly pops in to give his donation. 

“The shop is a very happy place to be and to volunteer, I always enjoy my time there. We see Claire and Sarah (assistant manager) have the same heart for people as us and that rubs off on everybody in the shop.” 

Ian said that people gravitate towards the shop because of the recognisability of the red shield.

He said: “It's an easy place to meet people and there’s a pastoral opportunity for any member of staff there just to have a quiet conversation with customers and for us to follow up. 

“If there is an issue and it’s a bit more complicated we can work with other agencies to support people. On one occasion we were called in to help a man who had mental health difficulties and had left his home in York and didn’t know how to get back. We were able to arrange travel for him and make sure there was someone on the other side to meet him. The work we do really is varied, every day is different.” 

Thirsk Salvation Army also looks for new ways for people to explore their faith, including hosting wild church in the forest. 

Over the summer holidays, they held a sock puppet and design a t-shirt workshop as part of their kids’ community wardrobe – making use of some craft materials from the charity shop, and a summer lending library which had 250 books for children to borrow and return. 

You can find out more about Thirsk Salvation Army by searching for them on Facebook.