Welling Salvation Army’s work receives Royal recognition

A Salvation Army church leader in London recently attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of the church’s efforts to support families and individuals on a low income. 

Katy Shubotham runs a community pantry at Welling Salvation Army that provides food, clothing and other items. It opens every Friday morning and currently has almost 80 people – the majority being families – signed up for support. People pay £5 per use and for this they get to choose three higher priced items (e.g meat and dairy), seven lower priced items (fruit, veg, toiletries, household cleaning products) and they can also choose five free items from a selection of books, crafts, clothes, and crockery.

The kitchen at the church was also renovated at the end of last year to offer a hot meal to anyone who comes to the pantry. The community pantry is supported by another organisation called Church Action on Poverty through its ‘Your Local Pantry’ initiative.

Katy was invited to the garden party at Buckingham Palace after the work of Welling Salvation Army received an award at the London Dangoor Awards - which celebrate the work of London’s faith and belief communities – earlier this year. 

Katy said: “It was such a privilege to be invited to and attend the garden party at Buckingham Palace. I felt like it was both recognition of the work that The Salvation Army does in communities and an acknowledgement of how people are struggling due to the high cost of living. It was a beautiful day, and I won’t ever forget it.”

Other weekly activity at Welling Salvation Army includes a knit and natter group on a Tuesday morning from 10am – 12pm and a coffee morning on a Friday from 10am – 12pm. For more information visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/welling