Wood Green

What is the Christmas Gift appeal all about?

The Salvation Army's Christmas Gift Appeal is all about serving the needs of the local community - showing the generosity of God's love in giving us Jesus, by providing a gift to families in need. 

So, whether you are looking to donate a gift or refer someone in need - you are in the right place, and all the information is below.

Looking to give a gift?

Firstly, thank you so much for your kindness in looking to donate a gift this Christmas - your generosity is much appreciated.

How can you help?

OPTION ONE: Donate a gift (please note that for this appeal we only accept new and unwrapped gifts)

If you would like to support the Gift Hub directly by purchasing a gift, you can go to our Amazon.co.uk Wishlist and purchase a gift which you can choose to come direct to us and be placed in the Hub. Alternatively, you can purchase a gift and drop it round to Wood Green Salvation Army: 24 Lymington Avenue, Wood Green N22 6JA. We aim to be open for collections Monday to Friday in the run up to Christmas. If you would like to check when would be best any week to drop off a donation of gifts, please contact us on: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk 

If you would like your workplace or business to support the Toy Hub, there are plenty of ways to get involved. You could organise a giving tree, or Christmas collection point where any donations of gifts can be collected – the Amazon.co.uk Wishlist can be used as inspiration. We can help you with this and will be happy to have a chat about arrangements for getting a bulk drop-off of gifts to us. Please contact us on: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk 

OPTION TWO: Make a donation

If you are unable to buy a gift and drop it off, or you are unsure what to buy, you could also make a donation towards a gift through our Just Giving page. 

Alternatively, as a workplace or business you could hold a Christmas event such as Christmas Jumper Day or simply have a collection for us at your work 'do' event. there are many ways you and your colleagues can make a difference. The money can either be donated direct through our Just Giving page or brought in to our Church hall on Lymington Avenue. 

Thank you for all the support you give, it is very much appreciated, and especially at this time when everyone is feeling the cost of living pinch. 

Who can apply for help?

To apply for the help you must:

• Live in one of the following postcodes: N22, N15, N17. Postcodes are currently restricted as we need to ensure we can meet local demand before rolling out wider.

• Have children aged 18 or under (please note, we do not provide gifts for those over 18 years), and have a key worker or community organisation that can refer you to the Gift Hub. Please get them to email: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk for a referral form.

   

God bless you. 

Sunday Worship

We meet at 10:30am every Sunday for Worship & Fellowship. The worshipping community of The Salvation Army Wood Green is made up of a wide and diverse mix of people from all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life. We gather for Sunday worship to share fellowship with one another and with God in ways that express spiritual creativity, inclusivity, and love.

Every Sunday, from 12:15 until 13:00.

Good News Kids is church especially for children aged 5–11. Each week we share a fun and welcoming time together with a drink and a snack, games, and activities. The children hear a Bible story brought to life, join in a short interactive reflection, and get creative with a craft to help them remember the day’s message.

*For safety, parents are required to sign their children in at the start and out again at the end of each session. Parents are also welcome to stay for the session.

Women of Hope

Women of Hope is a welcoming and informal discipleship group for women of all ages. We meet on the second Saturday of each month, from 10:30am to 12 noon. We share refreshments and conversation before beginning with a short opening prayer. One of our members then leads a relaxed discussion based on a chapter from a chosen book, creating space to reflect, grow in faith, and encourage one another.

Romans 6.14

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

-

The past few months have been challenging to say the least—perhaps I’d have to look back years to find a time quite like it. What should have been filled with joy, anticipation, and excitement has been anything but. I have been propped up, not just by God, but by good people around me. One thing that has become clear through it all is how close I still am to my former self. I often speak about a person’s ‘make-up’—that who we are is shaped by our experiences, and that salvation doesn’t erase our past but brings God’s redemptive work to bear upon it.

There are moments when what Paul says about sin’s dominion seems uncomfortably present—when, in truth, God’s grace is closer still. Grace isn’t merely nearby; it surrounds me, fills me, and holds me in ways I don’t always perceive. Still, old memories and patterns sometimes resurface. Though God’s grace is my present reality, the echoes of a former life still seem to linger in the corners of my brokenness.

Romans 6.14 meets me in that place. It speaks—almost as if written just this morning—that sin, not merely as wrongful actions but as a ruling power, no longer governs my life. Paul doesn’t treat sin lightly; he pictures it as a tyrant or master. But he also affirms that because of our union with Christ—especially symbolised through baptism (vv.3–4)—we have been united with Jesus in his death and resurrection. That union breaks the power sin once held over us. We are no longer enslaved; we are set free.

Still, freedom doesn’t mean immunity from struggle. How, then, do we keep from slipping back under sin’s grip, especially when the pull of old habits, shame, or weariness feels so real.

Romans 6.14 gives the promise, but the following chapters sketch the process. We resist sin’s rule not by sheer willpower but by living forward in grace rather than backward in guilt. This means remembering who we are in Christ: forgiven, loved, and made new. It means offering ourselves to God daily—not in grand gestures, but in simple moments of surrender: choosing kindness when anger rises, seeking God in prayer before distraction takes over, or letting someone else in when pride would shut them out.

We walk by the Spirit—step by step, not sprint by sprint—and stay rooted in a community soaked in grace, where we’re reminded again and again that we belong to God, even on our hardest days.

In doing so, the joy, anticipation, and excitement that once felt lost begin to return—not through striving, but through trust. As I look ahead to the coming week, I pray that what was overshadowed won’t be stolen again.

Bless you, Ian.
 

Tuesday

Seniors Lunch Club - 12:30 until 14:00 on the second Tuesday of each month

Seniors is designed for those aged 65+ (£3 per person). Following a welcome and light lunch of sandwiches and cake, we have a time of fellowship. This is sometimes an opportunity for a game of fun bingo, but is often led by a visiting guest or speaker, or showcasing a particular craft / skill. For more information, please email: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk 

Wednesday

COMING SOON - JANUARY 2026! 

Wood Green Community Wardrobe (referrals from within the London Borough of Haringey) 

Our clothing scheme in Wood Green supports vulnerable residents as the cost-of-living crisis continues. Working through referrals only - from local authorities, medical centres, local community groups, and key workers - our volunteers recycle and redistribute items in good condition to those who are in need and struggling to clothe themselves or their families.

For more details email: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk or call 020 8888 9466 (answering machine).

Community Wardrobe & Recycling Team - 11:30 until 14:30

Volunteers help keep our Community Wardrobe stocked and organised, sorting through donated items and preparing them for use. If you are interested in volunteering, please email wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk

Thursday

Family Life Parent & Toddler Group - From 13:00 until 14:30

Each session begins with free play and a simple craft activity in the lounge, giving children space to explore and create. We then move into the community hall for some active fun, with scooters, pushchairs, and more. Afterwards, we return to the lounge where the children gather in a circle to enjoy some fruit, listen to a story, and join in with songs—rounding off the session with calm, connection, and joy (Sessions are completely free).

Worship Group Practice & Fellowship - From 19:30

Our worship band gatherings are more than just rehearsals. They’re a time to share in music together, share in fellowship, and grow as a community. In an informal and relaxed setting, we practise songs for worship while also encouraging one another, and enjoying the gift of friendship. 

Saturday

Women of Hope - On the second Saturday of each month, from 10:30 until 12:00

Women of Hope is a welcoming and informal discipleship group for women of all ages. We meet on the second Saturday of each month, from 10:30am to 12 noon. We share refreshments and conversation before beginning with a short opening prayer. One of our members then leads a relaxed discussion based on a chapter from a chosen book, creating space to reflect, grow in faith, and encourage one another.

Community Sale - Bi-monthly (every two months) on the first Saturday, from 11:00 until 14:00

*Our current dates for the remainder of 2025 are October 4th & December 6th.

Come and explore our Community Sale—a treasure trove of clothing, homeware, and bric-a-brac! You’ll find a mix of both new and pre-loved items, all at affordable prices. From everyday essentials to one-of-a-kind finds, there’s something for everyone. More than just a sale, it’s a chance to meet with others, and pick up some great bargains along the way. All proceeds support our ministry in the community.

*The above are term-time only

Make an appointment with our Employment Plus Advice Service who can help with advice on benefits, money management, and employment and training. Just click on the link.

The Salvation Army offer guidance with benefit queries and support to identify and overcome barriers to work.

The Salvation Army can also help people get a handle on what they owe and work alongside them to make a realistic plan for repaying their debts.

Our free debt advice service can contact creditors on a person’s behalf to explore and negotiate options like repayment holidays and more realistic repayment plans.

Our debt advice centres support people with debt ranging from a few thousand pounds to many tens of thousands of pounds. For more details email thqdas@salvationarmy.org.uk. 

This section provides information about how The Salvation Army Wood Green can help with a range of issues being faced by our community today.

It is our aim to address the root cause of need and restore independence to everyone, so that life can be lived to the full (John 10:10).

Please note that wherever we give practical assistance we will be asking for some basic personal details (name, DOB, address and contact number) and why you are needing the help, in order to be able to keep a record of the help that we are being asked for and what help we are providing. If you would like to know how we use your data, please click here.

Food

We do not offer a weekly Foodbank service at Wood Green Salvation Army, but we we can:

• Refer you to a local Trussell Trust Foodbank and give information about other local foodbanks.
• Make an appointment with our Employment Plus Advice Service who can help with advice on benefits, money management, and employment and training.
• Depending on donations we may be able to provide a one-off bag of food in an emergency.
• Please click here to see an informal network of community groups and foodbanks run by volunteers that provide emergency food to local people in need of support.

Energy costs

Whilst we do not currently offer energy top ups at Wood Green Salvation Army, we can:

• Signpost you to information about help with bills that is available elsewhere, such as from your energy supplier or local authority.
• Make an appointment with our Employment Plus Advice Service who can help with advice on benefits, money management, and employment and training.

Finding accommodation

Whilst we cannot refer you into accommodation or provide accommodation directly at Wood Green Salvation Army, we can:

• Signpost you to advice on contacting your local authority in order to make a housing application.
• Provide other useful contact numbers for those who can help in finding accommodation.
• Make an appointment with our Employment Plus Advice Service who can help with advice on benefits, money management, and employment and training.

Toiletries

We keep a stock of toiletries ranging from shower gels to shampoos, deodorants, toothpaste, and more. We also currently provide sanitary towels and incontinence pads. Referrals should be made a key worker. Please email: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk for more information.

Therefore, we can:

• Provide you with a selection of toiletries (once a month)
• Make an appointment with our Employment Plus Advice Service who can help with advice on benefits, money management, and employment and training.

Clothing

We keep a stock of second-hand clothing for people of all ages and sizes. Clothing includes: t-shirts, jumpers, trousers, skirts, coats, shoes, hats, scarves and other accessories.

Therefore, we can:

• Provide a seasonal selection of clothing (up to three times per year)

Please note, that availability of clothing sizes and items depends on demand and supply which is primarily through donations. Referrals should be made a key worker. Please email: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk for more information.

Bedding

We keep a stock of second-hand bedding sheets of all bed sizes, duvets, pillows and sleeping bags. 

Therefore, we can:

• Provide a selection of bedding (up to twice a year)

Please note, that availability of some bedding items depends on demand and supply which is primarily through donations. Referrals should be made a key worker. Please email: wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk for more information.

During term-time we are open to take donations from 10.00 until 15:00 each Wednesday and Thursday. We are also open on Sunday morning from 10.00 until 12.30pm. Please place the bags inside the porch on Sunday if there is no-one at the reception.

So many in our community are so kind and regularly donate a variety of things to us for passing on to those in need. This includes: money, clothing, food and toiletries. Here is a bit more information about what you can donate, when you can donate it and what happens to it.

Firstly, please note, we DO NOT accept: 

• furniture (of any size or type);
• mattresses, duvets or pillows (hygiene reasons);
• electrical items
• white goods.

Also note, we DO NOT have a collection service to pick up donations.

What can you donate?

CLOTHING ITEMS:

• We accept: clothing and shoes (all ages and sizes).
• We ask that all clothing and bedding items should be clean and in good order; those that are not cannot be used to help others.
• Any clothing not suitable for our Community Wardrobe project or able to be passed on locally is sent to our warehouses in the UK to be recycled or redistributed to the Salvation Army charity shops across the UK.

BEDDING:

• We accept: bedding sheets (all types and sizes)
• We ask that it is clean and in good condition.
• We do not accept mattresses, duvets, sleeping bags or pillows, unless the item is new and still boxed / wrapped.
• Any bedding not suitable for our Community Wardrobe project or able to be passed on locally is sent to our warehouses in the UK to be recycled or redistributed to the Salvation Army charity shops across the UK.

*If you are unable to wait until we are open to donate clothing or bedding, we have a Salvation Army Clothes Bank at Haringey's Western Road reuse and recycling centre. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 until 16:00.

TOILETRIES:

• We accept: soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, wipes, toilet roll, tissues.

FOOD:

• We accept: non-perishable staples such as long life milk, pasta, rice, chopped tomatoes, breakfast cereals, tinned veg and fruit.
• We ask that any food donations are in date, unopened, unused.
• Although we do not operate a foodbank, we do provide an emergency food bag where needed and so it is helpful to have a little surplus food.

If you would like to support our work in Wood Green financially, you can donate to us in the following ways:

Cash and cheques sealed in an envelope can be posted through the letterbox of our building in Lymington Avenue.  If you want to help us take advantage of Gift Aid, then please include your address and we'll send you a Gift Aid form in the post.
 
You can also give online by clicking on this link:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tsa-community-support-000304

If you would like to make a donation to us via a bank transfer, then please make a BACS payment using these details:

Bank: Reliance Bank Ltd
Sort Code: 60-01-73
Account No.: 00178123
Account Name: SATCO General Income
Reference: WO12/11000/GIFT
*Please note the payment reference is essential to make sure the money gets to the right place*

As part of our commitment to prayer, we believe prayer changes things and we pray for the community and for the world throughout the week.

How It Works:

1. Email Us: Send your prayer requests to wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk.
2. Confidentiality: Your prayers remain confidential; we respect your privacy.
3. Prayer: We will pray!

You’re Not Alone. Let’s Pray Together!

The Salvation Army have a range of prayer resources listed on its Prayer Resources page, including Prayer Matters, the One Thing series and other worship and prayer resources to use. 

The Salvation Army is a Christian organisation and part of the universal Christian Church.

Its message and the lifestyle it advocates are based on the Bible's teaching. Its work is to make known the good news about Jesus Christ and to persuade people to become his followers.

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

Our identity, vision and God-given mission as disciples of Jesus Christ are shaped by the values of the Kingdom of God as we love God and love others, reaching for fullness of life for all with Jesus. Our values are reframed as statements of intent to assist us in how we live them out.

Boldness    

We will courageously and confidently seek to fulfil our five mission priorities: share the good news, seek justice and reconciliation, nurture disciples of Jesus, serve others without discrimination, care for creation;

Compassion    

We will serve with the unconditional love and grace of God as the pattern for our behaviour, with a bias to the poor and marginalised;

Passion    

We will bring our best selves, our God-given energies and our convictions to our work, service and learning, whether as officers, members, employees or volunteers;

Respect    

We will welcome each person with the dignity of those created in the image of God, valuing their diversity, seeking to serve each other’s flourishing and transformation within God’s love;

Integrity    

We will be honest and transparent in all our dealings with each other and those we serve, being open about our motives and agendas;

Mutual accountability   

 We will willingly and freely give full account for our actions to those we interact with and expect the same in return, recognising the link between individual responsibility and mutual accountability.

We are at the heart of the local community, providing a warm welcome and an offer of hope to everyone. Many of our programmes are run by volunteers, and whatever your skills or passions are we can find a role for you! 

Email wood.green@salvationarmy.org.uk for more information.