Cramlington Coffee Morning is ‘tonic’ for people experiencing loss

A vibrant Coffee Morning hosted by Cramlington Salvation Army is a ‘tonic’ for people who are living alone or have experienced loss. 

Cramlington Salvation Army’s Coffee Morning and Charity Shop offers a warm space with a decent affordable breakfast, plenty of bargains, and the chance to make friends. 

Hosting around 40 people a week, it runs from 10am till 1pm each Thursday with Territorial Envoy Sue Younger, who has led Cramlington Salvation Army for 17 years, also on hand to offer pastoral support. 

Sue said: “Our Coffee Morning is always busy. People can catch up with their friends, and sit for as long as they like. I make sure to go to each table to chat to people and, if they’ve got any problems, we’ll see what we can do to help.

“There’s sheltered accommodation nearby and a lot of our guests are on their own. The main issue people are facing is loneliness and isolation. A lot have lost people close to them, so to be able to come here and share their feelings, chat and also laugh together is so important. 

“There are people who may be experiencing homelessness who come for a hot meal and drink. We are able to offer food parcels or help source items such as tents for them. 

“We’ve also got a lovely community garden so when it's nice weather, we can open the doors and spill out there too. That’s tended to by volunteers and used by a range of community groups. We’re planting vegetables that can be used in our kitchen as well. 

“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without our volunteers who run the charity shop, help in the kitchen and chat to our customers. They are wonderful.”  

Cramlington Salvation Army has won awards for its community work including the Citizen of the Year Award 2022, a Hero Award from King Charles and an Asda Diamond Award for outstanding community contributions.

Community Assistant Kim, who has fond memories of The Salvation Army because they helped her grandfather send flowers home during the Second World War, cooks breakfasts each Thursday. She said: “The community come for the company, because most of them live on their own. They get a warm space so that saves on the heating bills and we keep prices low for food and hot drinks. They also get to take home a sandwich or quiche which saves them having to cook lunch or dinner that day.

“We also take them on a yearly trip. Last summer we took 30 people to Alnwick so they could sit and enjoy the gardens with ice cream. They’ll sit in their groups and have a good chat, it’s lovely.” 

Kim’s 85-year-old mum Ena is also a volunteer in the charity shop along with two Eileens, also both in their eighties. Items like books, clothes, bric-a-brac, duvets and sheets are displayed throughout the hall and are on sale for as little as 10p. 

Eileen started volunteering after she moved into a smaller property and brought some donations to the charity shop. She said: “They invited me in for a cup of tea and that was it, I kept coming and I love it. 

“It’s a tonic coming here on a Thursday morning. You can feel really down, but you come in here and it’s so lovely, it makes you feel much better.  

“I think they are all so friendly. I live on my own now after my husband died, so coming here, it’s given me a new life.” 

Maurice and his wife Anne, who is living with Dementia, come each week for the scrambled eggs and the company. 

Maurice said: “I just enjoy the scrambled egg, it’s wonderful. Kim is an expert! 

“We enjoy the company, we spend an hour or two here and it gets us out of the house. It’s very sociable and Sue’s a gem, she really is, she’s really hardworking and has helped us a lot. She’s my port in a storm.” 

Gerald started coming with his wife Susan because of his daughter, who passed away in her late forties, but had loved coming to The Salvation Army. 

He said: “Our daughter would talk to everybody. We keep coming because we mix with everybody and have a bit of a laugh.” 

Friendships have developed that go beyond the four walls of The Salvation Army with Anne, Ann, Helen and Mima regularly meeting up or taking trips out together. 

Having also experienced a loss, Ann said: “When my husband died a friend said ‘why don’t you come to the Sally?’ and we just love coming, we make friends and have a laugh. It’s lovely.

“We help out at special events like Easter, Harvest Festival and at Christmas. We dress up as Christmas elves and give the presents out, we love doing that.” 

Cramlington Salvation Army in Cramond Way also runs a craft group, parent and toddler group, and holds Worship on a Sunday and monthly in two care homes. Sue also sells the War Cry outside Aldi each Friday. They are launching a monthly club on a Monday offering a hot meal and an activity or talk. Find out more here.