The Salvation Army has been working in Exeter since 1881 and has a full programme that includes providing the following to anyone in our community:

• Worship on Sunday mornings and festivals throughout the year

• Takeaway hot meals and goody bags on Saturdays and Sundays for anyone needing a meal

• Tailored support for those seeking employment to be job ready, along with support to stay in work

• Parent and Toddler groups

• Connect Club sessions for people to meet, play games, do crafts, chat and have a coffee

• Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers

• School assemblies and support with curriculum activities and resources

• Singing-by-heart sessions - a singing group for adults that is fun and aims to be dementia friendly

• Food parcels, especially during school holidays

• Christmas toys for over 250 children, birthday presents as requested and Christmas Day meals for those who would otherwise be alone

• A safe space for families to meet, rehearsal facilities for local choirs, and for community clubs to hold meetings and activities.

During lockdown we were asked by Exeter City Council to provide meals at weekends for vulnerable people accommodated in hotels and in their own homes. Each weekend approximately 120 meals were cooked and delivered.

We have plans to extend our programme to include a luncheon club and to work with other community groups to provide facilities that support the needs of local people.

Our work is possible, only due to the very generous donations we receive from the people of Exeter and district. However, our building in Friars Walk is now in need of major refurbishment to ensure it continues to be structurally sound and the internal areas meet the needs of our current and future community programme.

Our refurbishment project has commenced and will cover the following main areas:

• Replacing the roof, windows, guttering and installing solar panels

• Reconfiguring the ground floor to make the area more practical for community use

• Installing new toilets and upgrading the kitchen facilities

• Making the building compliant with current building regulations

We are fundraising to help cover the cost of our refurbishment programme and we would be grateful for any donations.

The Salvation Army is a Christian Church & registered Charity working in 130 countries worldwide and is one of the largest and most diverse providers of social welfare in the world. In the UK and Republic of Ireland this work includes more than 800 Salvation Army social service centres and community churches. We provide unconditional friendship, support and very practical help to people in crisis and need and work with children, homeless people, all adult victims of modern slavery and those dealing with drug and/or alcohol addiction.