Salvation army and St Vincent de Paul Society

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The Salvation Army

• Christian denomination
• founded in the nineteenth century

Salvation Army members work with the poor and disadvantaged in many ways. Their work includes:

• setting up soup kitchens and hostels for the homeless
• toy distribution at Christmas
• advice that helps people to get rid of and stay out of debt
• giving employment guidance and information
• giving emergency assistance, for example, food, meals, clothes, baby supplies, showers
• providing community vegetable gardens where people can grow their own food
• collecting and redistributing unwanted furniture
• raising awareness of the issue of human trafficking.

St Vincent de Paul Society

• Roman Catholic society
• has been given a Big Society award by the Prime Minister in recognition of its work in improving the lives of people with different needs in the UK
• founded in the nineteenth century by a French professor, Frederic Ozanam, who said: 'In my life I want to become better and do a little good. Their aims are to visit the sick, feed the hungry, help the homeless and befriend the lonely.
• irrespective of race, culture and religion.

The society is involved in all kinds of work, for example:

• repairing and restoring donated furniture to give to those who need it
  support centres giving debt advice, counselling and providing training in literacy, numeracy and ICT
• providing support for asylum seekers
• running community shops and food banks in areas where there is great poverty
• providing holidays for disadvantaged children and families
• running hostels for newly released prisoners, homeless and mentally ill people
• a range of activities for disabled people
• soup kitchens.

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