Chelmsford Charity Shop

Opening Times:

Monday            09:30 to 16:00

Tuesday            10:00 to 16:00

Wednesday      09:30 to 13:00

Thursday          09:30 to 16:00

Friday                09.30 to 16:00

The Charity Shop can only take donations during opening times. Please do no leave donations outside the shop. They either get wet from the rain or stolen! Either way we are unable to use your kind donations.

As a Christian Church we do not sell books of the following subjects: The New Age, Horoscopes and Tarot, Spiritualism, The Supernatural, Pornography, Books by Cults or Sects, alcohol recipe books and books promoting gambling. 

Items we are NOT allowed to sell

Any item that could be regarded as an offensive weapon. This includes knives, all types of pistols, toy guns and spring operated sword sticks.

Food of any kind

Golf clubs and any large sporting equipment

Pushchairs, baby cribs and baths

Toys that do not bear the CE mark and broken toys

Spectacles other than sunglasses

Animal fur coats of any description

Stamps, coins and medals

Night clothes that do not bear the label 'Warning - Keep Away From Fire'

Furniture of any kind

Fireguards - other than those labelled - BS 1945:1971

Any electrical items

Crash helmets of any description

Volunteering FAQ 

How does The Salvation Army work with volunteers?

Chelmsford Salvation Army offers a range of activities and services within their local communities. People can get involved in all sorts of ways, through volunteering with fundraising initiatives, helping with local activities, at our charity shop and Children and Families work. 

How can I apply to volunteer?

To volunteer for any of our programmes you will need to fill out an application form and get two references. To get an application form please contact us and we can arrange for an information pack to be sent to you. Once completed you will be contacted by someone for the Chelmsford Salvation Army.

What if I don’t have much time?

You can still get involved. There are lots of ways that you can support. Some of our volunteer roles are one-off opportunities, such as helping us locally at Christmas. 

How long do I have to volunteer for?

There is no minimum or maximum time limit on volunteering. When you complete an application form, we will ask for an idea of when you would like to volunteer, how often and for what length of time. This is just to get an indication of interest and will be discussed further when you attend an interview. 

Who can volunteer?

Anyone who is in sympathy with the aims and values of The Salvation Army can get involved in some way. We are an organisation that welcomes diversity, and we have opportunities for a wide range of ages, skills, availability, and situation

What will I get out of the volunteering experience?

Our volunteers all choose to give their time and skills, but for a variety of reasons: 

· Many feel inspired by seeing the difference that supporting vulnerable people can have, by helping those who need it most 

· Others see volunteering as their chance to use their skills and experience to give something back to the community 

· Volunteering can also be a very social activity and a great way to meet new people 

· It is also a great way to add skills and experience to your CV and improve prospects for employment

Why do I have to go through the application process?

We ask all our volunteers to fill out an application form and get two references before they can volunteer with The Salvation Army. In order to make sure that we match volunteers with the right role, we need to know about them, their interests, skills and areas that they want to work in. The best way to find this out is through an application form. 

What should I do if I have trouble filling out a form?

The Salvation Army welcomes people from all backgrounds, and we want to make sure that filling out an application form is not a barrier to involvement. If you struggle to write or use a computer, we can assist and help you fill out your form.

Do I really need to get two references? 

We ask all potential volunteers who are signing up for a regular volunteering role to provide two references. One of these references should be from someone who has known you in an organisational capacity, for example an employer, previous employer or a church or other group you are part of. If you don’t have recent employment or volunteering experience we will talk with you to agree how to get an appropriate reference. The application process is part of our commitment to safeguarding both the people we serve and our volunteers, and references are an important part of the process. 

Do I need to have a criminal records check?

This depends on what we are asking you to do. Many of the people we work with are vulnerable and volunteers may be dealing with confidential and sensitive information or working with people unsupervised. In these cases, we need to make sure that we have proper checks in place, and that people are suitable for these roles and will ask you to complete a criminal records check. We will make it clear on the role description and when you apply if a criminal records check is needed.

These procedures are in place to protect you and the people we serve, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation with this. 

Do I need any particular skills to volunteer?

For some roles there may be a particular skill or qualification required, for example for our Volunteer Drivers, who need a clean driving license. We will make it clear on the role description whether specific skills are required, and when training will be offered.

Will I receive training? 

Volunteers will receive basic training and induction when they start volunteering with us. You will also receive additional training for any specialist roles you choose to volunteer for. 

What will it cost me to volunteer?

Nothing! All it will cost you is your time. We do not expect our volunteers to be out of pocket, and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed if this would be a barrier to your involvement.

For more information and a application form:

Email: chelmsford@salvationarmy.org.uk

Tel: 01245 490998

Please note, we are closed on Bank Holidays. Our school holidays hours may differ slightly to our normal hours.

Chelmsford Citadel | The Salvation Army

Sunday

Our building is open from 09:15 to 12:30

10:00 to 11:30         Morning Worship

10:30 to 11:30         Sparklers (3 to 7 year olds)

10:30 to 11:30         XTB (7 to 11 year olds)

10:30 to 11:30         Youth Cell (12 to 18 year olds)

11:45 to 12:30         Coffee Fellowship

11:45 to 12:15          Singing Company Rehearsal (Junior Choir)

Monday

10:00 to 12:00          Community Cafe

10:00 to 12:00          Employment Plus

10:00 to 12:00          Carpet Bowls Club (Bi-Weekly)

Tuesday

20:00 to 22:00         Songster Rehearsal (Senior Choir)

Wednesday

10:00 to 12:00          Rising Stars - Parent and Toddler Group

13:00 to 15:00          Rising Stars - Parent and Toddler Group

17:45 to XX:XX           Beavers

18:45 to XX:XX           Cubs

19:30 to XX:XX           Scouts

Thursday

10:00 to 12:00          Community Café

12:00 to 13:00          Lunch Club

14:00 to 15:00          Home League

19:15 to 20:00           Learner Band Rehearsal

20:00 to 22:00         Senior Band Rehearsal

Friday

10:00 to 12:00          Computer Club (Biweekly)

Saturday 28th September 2024 - 10:00 to 12:00

Coffee morning organised by the BP sections to raise funds for the Corps Community Projects.

Tea, coffee, cake and maybe a bacon roll!

Sunday 29th September 2024

Chelmsford band and Songsters at Southend Bandstand

Sunday 6th October 2024 - 10:00 to 12:00

Harvest Celebrations Sunday

Saturday 19th October 2024

Quiz night to raise funds for Corps Community Projects

Saturday 16th November 2024 - 10:00 to 12:00

Coffee morning to raise funds for the Corps Community Projects.

Christmas 2024

Saturday 30th November 2024 - 19:00

Christmas Concert organised by our Songsters (Senior Choir) and featuring special guests

Tickets available soon...

Sunday 1st December 2024 - 10:00 to 12:00

Toy and Gift Service

Sunday 8th December 2024 

Christmas Carol Service