Bustling charity shop is welcoming hub for Thirsk community

- by Harriet Whitehead, Communications Officer (Yorkshire & Humber and North East) - The Salvation Army

It's a bustling retail outlet in the market town of Thirsk, but The Salvation Army charity shop also has a heart for community and has become a hub of support for its customers.

In this North Yorkshire town, the church and charity operate as a 'fresh expression' where Salvation Army leaders do not have a traditional church base, but are embedded in the community, and are led by what that community needs and what God is calling them to.

For Majors Paula and Ian Haylett, who have led Thirsk Salvation Army for nine years, this means the work is diverse, from running kids' community wardrobe events, a mums' walking group, hosting bible study at their home, and volunteering in the charity shop, which is run by The Salvation Army's trading arm, SATCoL.

The charity shop, with its recognisable red shield, is a first port of call for many people who need support, with charity shop manager Claire Fairweather and her team working closely with, and regularly signposting people to Paula and Ian.

Claire said:

"We're a charity shop providing items at a good price with profits going back into supporting the work The Salvation Army does, but we're also a community. You feel like you're not just selling, you're doing something that is worthwhile, hands on, and you see it working in the community every day with the people that walk through the door.

 

The shop is the main visual presence in the town so if people are looking for The Salvation Army they come here, whether that is to get a voucher for a meal or to donate presents for the Christmas Present Appeal.

 

We often get people through the doors who are struggling and we can give them clothes and new items like socks and underwear, or food vouchers. We then refer them onto Paula and Ian, and they will help with what else they might need."

How much this support is appreciated has been shown through the donations that come through the door - recently they received a gift after providing clothes to the police for a reconstruction of an accident.

Claire said:

"Months later, the police officer came back and told us about a man who had been homeless and had sadly died. He had some money on him at the time, and the police had contacted his family who said they wanted that money to go to charity. The office remembered us because we were helpful with the reconstruction and with the fellow being a homeless gentleman, it made sense for the money to come to The Salvation Army, who help people in these situations. We didn't expect it to be a lot of money, but it turned out to be £400 which was a lovely donation and very generous of his family, and the policeman to think of us."

When Paula started volunteering, she was also struck by the kindness of the people who come through the doors.

Paula said:

"One moment that has stayed with me is a man who had experienced homelessness and had been helped by The Salvation Army in the past, and was now doing well. He donated £100 and said 'you've helped me and I've become a Christian. I've sorted my rent and bills and this is what I've got left over and I want to give it to you so you can help someone else in the same way that I was helped'.

 

The whole shop watched my exchange with him and they were in tears, they started talking to each other about what a lovely thing they'd just witnessed. It was quite something. He still regularly pops in to give his donation.

 

The shop is a very happy place to be and to volunteer, I always enjoy my time there. We see Claire and Sarah (Assistant Manager) have the same heart for people as us and that rubs off on everybody in the shop."

Ian said that people gravitate towards the shop because of the recognisability of the red shield.

He said:

"It's an easy place to meet people and there's a pastoral opportunity for any member of staff there just to have a quiet conversation with customers, and for us to follow up. There's plenty of cafes around where we can take people for a coffee and a chat. In a practical sense, it's been really useful.

 

If there is an issue and it's a bit more complicated we can work with other agencies to support people, for example on one occasion we were called to help with a man who had mental health difficulties and had got on a bus and left his home in York  and didn't know how to get back. I phone social services, got him on a bus back and arranged for someone to meet him on the other side. The work we do really is varied, every day is different."

Thirsk Salvation Army also looks for new ways for people to explore their faith, hosting wild church and a wild harvest event encouraging people to walk in the forest and seek a deeper spiritual connection with God.

Over the summer holidays, they held a sock puppet and design a t-shirt workshop as part of their kids' community wardrobe - making use of some craft materials from the charity shop, and a summer lending library which had 250 books for children to borrow and return.

You can find out more about Thirsk Salvation Army by searching for them on Facebook.