Local people raise funds to make a difference to developing communities across the globe

A small group of people from Brighouse, which has been putting a little by every week for just under a year, has reached their goal of raising £600 to support our International Development work.

A member of our Brighouse Church, Brenda Mitchell, was inspired after reading about the work carried out by The Salvation Army to support developing communities around the globe.

Lieutenant Claire Whybrow, Commanding Officer at Brighouse Corps, said: “About 20 members of our congregation kindly gave a little money every week and they’ve just reached their goal of £600 which is just wonderful. What’s particularly special is that we can choose what the money buys thanks to an initiative from The Salvation Army, which has given us a list of gifts to choose from.

“Seeing exactly what our money could do has really helped to spur us on."

One of the gifts selected by the fundraisers was counselling for a trafficked child, which is £4 for each child. The group also chose to spend the money on purchasing two goats, two chickens, eight school books, six fun days out, medical care for eight vulnerable girls, seven second hand bikes, training for three farmers, training for three farmers, five fishing nets, two start-up loans, training for three farmers and lessons to teach eight people to read.

Claire continued: “I’m incredibly proud of our fundraisers for achieving their goal and would like to thank them all. We are one army and this is a tremendous effort which will help to change lives.”

The Salvation Army’s International Development work aims to resource empower and support developing communities to defeat poverty and injustice and enable them to build a better life and future. The work engages with people to comprehend injustice and take action to restore our world as a place where justice, dignity and equality are a reality for all people.

This year we are celebrating 150 years of transforming lives and it is still at the heart of every community today, supporting those in need.