The Salvation Army
Contact: Captain Martin Thompson, 6 Marlborough Court, Manaton Close, Matford Business Park Exeter EX2 8PF
Tel: 01392 822122
Mobile: 07934 907435
Fax: 01392 822111
Email: martin.thompson@salvationarmy.org.uk
Website: www.salvationarmy.org.uk
The Salvation Army, an international organisation, is first and foremost a church, which seeks to express its Christian beliefs in a very practical way. You will no doubt think immediately of several things when “The Salvation Army’ is mentioned carolling at Christmas, bonnets (!), work with the homeless - ¦and these are indeed important parts of our identity - apart from the bonnet which has largely been consigned to the history books!
As the “Divisional Youth Officer’ I am responsible for Youth Work across the South-Western Division, one of the 18 sub-regions of the United Kingdom Territory. Our Division covers Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Avon - ¦a huge area with many different cultural identities. In Devon, we have 18 Churches, 1 Homeless Hostel for Men and a centre for adults with Learning Disabilities. Virtually all these centres have some kind of expression of Youth Work, be it Sunday School, Homeless Resettlement work, or informal Youth Clubs. Most of our work in the Devon area is undertaken by volunteer youth workers, although we are seeking ways in which we can fund full time positions.
My role is to set strategy for the delivery of youth work in the region, develop partnerships with other organisations (such as VYS Devon!), train and equip Youth Workers, and also to develop large events, such as Summer Camps and Regional Celebrations.
My vision would be to see quality youth work undertaken in each of the expressions of Salvation Army that we have in Devon, with trained volunteers who are passionate about being involved in young people’s lives. This would embrace the key concepts of education and empowerment giving the young people the tools that they need to interrelate and develop within society.
Martin Thompson
Divisional Youth Office, ALOVE South-Western - Tel 01392 822112 Fax 01392 822111e-mail alove.southwestern@salvationarmy.org.uk and website www.alove.org.uk
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