Salvation Army Oldham welcomes VIP to see community work

Mayor of Oldham praises Salvation Army for the work it does in supporting the local community 

The Salvation Army welcomed the Mayor of Oldham and shared the work it does for the local community as many people continue to struggle with high food prices and increasing household bills. 

Councillor Eddie Moores joined The Salvation Army at its church and community centre, located on Roundthorn Road, Oldham, to see the extensive work that the church and charity has on offer for the people of Oldham. During his visit Cllr Moores learnt about the employment support available to job seekers through The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus service, the outreach work through its food bank and the work of the Lighthouse Project, an onsite drop in offering a hot meal, showering facilities and signposting for people in times of crisis.

Cllr Moores spoke at length throughout his visit to drop-in clients, Salvation Army employees and volunteers and had a tour of the building, seeing the different areas involved in ensuring support is delivered and available to the people of Oldham. 

Cllr Eddie Moores, Mayor of Oldham, said: "The Mayoress and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit, we were able to observe the fantastic work being provided by The Salvation Army, we were able to speak to volunteers and service users and to hear about the positive impact that the Lighthouse Project has had on their lives. I would like to personally thank all those involved, they are making a real difference."

The Lighthouse Project runs every week on Fridays from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm on a drop-in basis. Funded by donations to The Salvation Army and run by a team of employees and volunteers, people can access a hot meal, coffee and teas, cold drinks, food parcels, showers and laundry facilities. 

Captain Maisie Veacock, church leader of The Salvation Army Oldham said: “We want to thank the Mayor of Oldham, Cllr Moores, for taking the time to visit our church and community centre and see the positive work that we do here to support the members of our local community. It was wonderful to be able to show him our weekly drop-in, to see him interacting with our clients and to share details about why we do what we do. 

“Oldham has many deprived areas, and we see first-hand, every day, how people are struggling. Working people and households on low incomes are still not able to make ends meet, people in times of crisis or experiencing homelessness find a safe space and haven with us and everyone needs that extra arm of support more than ever before. We are passionate about giving those people a voice and it was important for us to show Cllr Moores how we help and to highlight the breadth of support that we offer.

“We are only too proud to continue to be at the heart of the community. We see ourselves as offering a hand up, not a handout, and walking alongside the people who live within our town.”

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Oldham for over 140 years, offering support to the local community since 1882. For more information and contact details for support please visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/oldham-roundthorn.