Birmingham Citadel
Salvation Army
Transforming lives
Easter 2024
18.03.2024
Our Easter week activities are listed here, we hope you want to be part of our Easter 2024
How you can help us at Christmas
Watch our video appeal from Captain Clare Allman.
It’s still a few weeks until Christmas and we are facing an unprecedented level of demand for help this year. Please, if you can, dig deep and support our Christmas Appeal to provide Toys and Food Parcels covering the Birmingham and Oldbury areas. You can provide unopened food, boxed or tinned,(see the examples provided below) and new, unopened toys suitable for children up to the age of 16, especially teenagers. We request that everything be new and unopened.
You can buy something online and have it delivered directly to The Salvation Army, 24 St Chads Queensway, Birmingham B4 6HH
Thank you for what you can do to help us this year.
On Saturday 1st October a quiz and auction was held to raise much needed funds for our Refugee Resettlement Programme. We are in the process of being placed with a family, so raising nearly £3,000 in one evening was not only a fantastic amount of money but will also greatly help our programme.
A huge thank you to Captain Martyn Evans for organising the Quiz and for Paul and Jo Meredith for collecting the items for auction and running the auction. Lots ranged from a day’s DIY to a week’s accommodation in Ibiza, Tenerife and North Devon.
If you can donate to help us reach our target please do so here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Birmingham-Citadel-Salvation-Army2
It was a real pleasure to enrol Sophie as our newest Senior Soldier (church member) on Sunday 11 September 2022. Captain Clare Allman led Sophie through the ceremony during which, Major Adrian Allman read out the Salvation Army Doctrines, as a reminder to all those present of the commitment required to be a Senior Soldier.
Sophie was enrolled in front of her family and friends, some had travelled from other parts of the UK to be there.
During her testimony Sophie said that putting her trust in God gave her a sense of comfort and safety and as she prepares for life at University she knows God will face things with her and feels he has already prepared the way for the next stage in her life.
Members of Birmingham Citadel Salvation Army Church put themselves forward as Volunteers for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and will be a wonderful memory for all those who were part of making the Games happen as well as more than one million people who attended the events.
Sam Seabridge was assigned to Birmingham Airport
I’ve been welcoming Athletes and Officials as they come into Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International Railway Station, helping them make sure they’ve got all the right things and sending them off to the correct games villages. We’ve also helped those who are heading back via departures. My highlights have been meeting some of the Athletes who have gone on to win their events, collecting pins and badges from different countries around The Commonwealth and even meeting one of the top country officials from India!
Ruth Capewell was placed at the Athletes Village for the Coventry and Warwickshire events.
She says
It was a privilege and an honour to have been a CWG volunteer, especially as I was born in Birmingham and consider myself as a Brummie! I was based at Warwick University Athletes Village. My role was in transport, initially welcoming the athletes as they arrived. Then once settled in, my colleagues and I ensured that the athletes got on the right bus to their training and games venue site and welcomed them back with or without a medal with great applause and cheering. The athletes and the games family ( physios, coaches, team managers, medical team, etc) were all so friendly and great to converse with. My highlight was sharing a pizza with some of the Samoan team on the bus. You don’t want to mess with these guys! The Police, armed police, armed forces, security team, bus drivers and of course my fellow volunteers were all great to work with and we had such a laugh. Working outdoors, we were blessed with perfect weather. The Games are considered to have three key values: humanity, quality and destiny. These help the Games to symbolise the coming together of the diverse group of nations in a central setting. Everyone in the village integrated well. Whatever the colour of their skin was, whatever religion they practiced. Be it they were from a rich country or a poor country. Be it if they won a medal or not. For those 2 1/2 weeks we were all united together. We were all one in our central setting, the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham. I pray that one day our world can be like that. That we can all be at peace with one another. And worship the one true Lord! People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Luke 13:29
Andrew Dickinson works for the local Water company who provided free water at every venue.
Working for Severn Trent allowed me the opportunity to volunteer at what we have called ‘Water Bars’. The purpose was to reduce the amount of single use plastic bottles being used across the games by offering free water to those with refillable water bottles.
I did three sessions including the Triathlon and the Beach Volleyball. It was great to be right in the middle of the action being able to help keep everyone hydrated. TV presenter Simon Thomas (of Sky Sports and Blue Peter fame) came over for a chat, as did several athletes taking part in the triathlon and I cannot forget ‘Spikey’ the England team mascot coming across and making a nuisance of himself.
The atmosphere across all three sessions was wonderful with everyone so happy to be there. My favourite quote was someone telling their daughter ‘who knew free water could make me so happy’….I better not tell the CEO that bit of information.
Major Vic Kennedy is a retired Salvation Army Officer who works with West Midlands Police as a Police Chaplain supporting the Officers and Staff.
As a chaplain with the West Midlands Police I was asked to be responsible for chaplaincy at the Police Command Hub for the Commonwealth Games. We seconded 3000 Police officers from others forces throughout the UK to make sure the games were a safe environment for the athletes, visitors and local residents. At The Police Command Hub we had military, fire, Air force and NHS commanders and a host of specialist security personal drawn from as far afield as Australia helping with the police operation
I got to know many of these people throughout the games and was seen as their Padre; in fact I was called this on numerous occasions. Many Spiritual conversations were shared. Our chaplaincy support was greatly valued.
The West Midlands police chaplaincy team distributed around 1500 copies of a special Commonwealth Games New Testament provided by the organisation “Good News for everyone” to police officers and staff involved in the Games.
The Commonwealth Games gave us the opportunity to share our faith in “Love and Deed” to around 4000 police officers and staff along with security personal from other agencies which was a great privilege and also a Hugh responsibility.
Rob O’Connor saw an advert asking for volunteers to help the West Midlands Police during the Games.
I was fortunate to have two opportunities to volunteer. Prior to the Games starting I was a driver for a number of overseas security staff who were receiving Security briefings and tactics to deal with major events and large crowds. Most of the overseas visitors had not been to Birmingham before so we were able to tell them about the city and how it has changed and modernised in recent years. I also met the Chief Constable of the Police Force and was presented with a commemorative medal marking the Games.
Following the conclusion of that role I transferred to the Logistics area, again working as a driver to take supplies to Rest and Refreshment areas for the Police who were on duty at the various venues around the area. As a volunteer I worked with 3 different teams of Police officers from all over the UK. They were amazed and impressed I was prepared to give up my time to help them do a job they were being paid to do. There were times either on the road or in the warehouse where we talked about their day to day roles and how difficult Policing is, and how much help volunteers provide to make their jobs easier. It was a very enjoyable time.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games has been an outstanding success, not only for the sporting achievements of the competitors, but also for the City and West Midlands region. The people of Birmingham and the West Midlands have embraced the people of the Commonwealth and shown them the true “Brummie” spirit of warmth and generosity. Those members of our church who took the extra step to join the army of volunteers have been able to Love God, Love Others through their willingness to be placed where they were needed, to help, direct, congratulate or commiserate, refresh, listen, refill and just be there when someone wanted a friendly face.
We would like to welcome Julia as the newest member of our church family as she was enrolled as a Senior Soldier on Sunday 17 April 2022. Julia first attended the Army as a child, going to the Sunday School at nearby Birmingham Goodwill Centre in Nechells. As she grew older, she decided the Army wasn’t right for her and for many years she looked for other places to worship but felt a sense of being lost during that time although she never lost her faith. In 2018 Julia reconnected with Birmingham Citadel after attending Christmas with The Salvation Army at the Symphony Hall. She knows God speaks to her through the Corps and what she sees in the World and feels accepted and knows she belongs. Julia decided to take the step of Soldiership in early 2020, but due to Covid the enrolment has been delayed until now. She is pictured with Captain Clare Allman, Corps Officer the left and Recruiting Sergeant Carole Richardson on the right.
The Kenya Trust has raised thousands of pounds to support the work of The Salvation Army in Kenya, mostly for music projects. Recently they have been involved with providing educational facilities for Salvation Army schools in East Kenya.
Patricia Owen is a Trustee (as is Gaynor Sharman). She organised Citadel’s Got Talent by encouraging our younger members of the church to showcase their Talents. As well as musical items the young people also cooked, and created arts and crafts.
Over 120 people came along to watch and look at the talented artists and live items presented featured Brass instruments, string instruments and the voice. There was drama and dance too. Each item was applauded and cheered but each one of the young people taking part deserved that applause. Each person taking part recorded a short video to introduce themselves. The Young People’s Band and SInging Company started and closed the evening.
The evening was broadcast live on our live stream channel.
So far over £1,000 has been raised to fund two new classrooms and a toilet block for a school in Kenya and if you would like to donate please visit www.thekenyatrust.org and find the donate button.
You can see all the photos from the evening on our facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Birminghamcitadel
Our Associate Officers (Assistant Ministers) Captains Chris and Lucy Still brought their children to be dedicated this week. Chris and Lucy recently became parents for a second time and so their new daughter Charlotte and older brother Leo were dedicated by Major Adrian Allman in front of a large number of family and friends with others joining our Livestream audience to share in Worship with us remotely.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, The Salvation Army already is still providing food, shelter, clothing, prayers and hope.
We’re asking people to continue to donate today to help us give practical support and care for people affected by conflict.
The Salvation Army has programmes and personnel in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Romania, Moldova and other European countries who were able to offer practical assistance as soon as the situation escalated. Some rushed to the border of Ukraine to hand out urgent provisions while others made arrangements to offer support to people and families displaced by the violence.
In particular, The Salvation’s Army’s response includes:
- Romania has formed an emergency team, filled the car with essential items travelled to the border to offer support.
- Moldova will provide free assistance to refugees from Ukraine including temporary accommodation, hot meals and drinks, access to Wi-Fi and other necessary items.
- Poland is preparing relief parcels for Ukrainian people coming into the country.
- Slovakia is preparing to offer accommodation, material needs and emotional support.
- Czech Republic is already home to some 200,000 Ukrainians and anticipates many more will will seek help from family and friends already in the country. The Salvation Army has available capacity in its residential centres and stands ready to provide support.
- The Salvation Army in Ukraine reports that officers are sleeping in shelters alongside the communities they serve, but are doing their best to offer hope and support.
Donations to support Salvation Army relief work
The current focus for cash donations is to support Salvation Army work in Ukraine and surrounding countries. To donate to help our work on the ground to support those affected by the crisis, there are two options:
1) The International Projects Office has set up an appeal page and the donation link is https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk?form=Ukrainecrisisappeal
2) JustGiving – for people raising funds locally (rather than one off donations) for the Ukraine crisis through a fundraising event or challenge, use https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/TheSalvationArmyResponseinUkraine
This Ukraine Just Giving Campaign page has been set up to enable you to collect donations directly for any work you are doing to support this appeal.
Please donate via the central appeals
Please note, it is not possible to send donations direct to Ukraine or surrounding territories. Donations that are sent outside of our territory’s Ukraine crisis appeal cannot be included in any emergency project and put additional administrative pressure on the territories responding to the crisis.
Offers of blankets, clothing or other items from the public
We can only accept cash donations for international emergency appeals and relief work. If people ask if you would accept donated blankets, food and other physical times for Ukraine, please politely decline and explain that giving money is the best way people can help.
In most cases, donating items slows down our international relief work as items need to be sorted, cleaned and transported. Spending money on delivering items also leaves less money to help those in immediate need.
In contrast, money donated to The Salvation Army stays within our Movement. We use our international network to make sure help is given to the people who need our support. We have Salvation Army officers and Salvationist volunteers already on hand in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. We are working with them and our colleagues at our international headquarters in London to make sure donations are used properly.
Offers of practical support within The Salvation Army
To avoid inundating Salvation Army personnel serving communities affected by the Ukraine crisis, International Headquarters has respectfully asked that all internal offers of practical assistance – such as driving items and volunteers teams to the borders to offer help – are channelled through the Chief Secretary’s Office (via ChiefSecretary@salvationarmy.org.uk).
From here they will be passed on to the Europe zonal office at IHQ who are aware of all the different territorial responses. This will ensure a greater level of transparency and accountability and stream-line practical and financial support to colleagues who are responding to incredibly difficult situations.
Praying for Ukraine
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are impacted by the crisis. As you will appreciate, this is a very sensitive situation and is a significant burden for all our personnel in the Eastern Europe Territory and the Russia Command. Please keep them in your prayers.
Our international leader of The Salvation Army, General Brian Peddle, has called for renewed prayer over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine – see details online here.
We were so pleased to conduct another Dedication on Sunday 20 February 2022. Aubrey is daughter of Joe and Ruth and she has a big sister Ava.Captain Clare Allman conducted the dedication ceremony witnessed by the Godparents, many family and friends as well as the wider church family.Aubrey’s Grandfather, Rev Nigel Taylor was the guest speaker.
You can read about our latest Community Project to help rehome and settle a family of refugees from Afghanistan on this page on our website
Refugee Community Sponsorship 2022/2023
Christmas with the Salvation Army - click here to read about the 2019 event ›