Salvation Army's Scottish Election film project comes to Falkirk

[Photo: Employment Development Officer Louise McKnight, Lt Col Jonathan Roberts and Margaret Mitchell MSP]

Staff and service users at The Salvation Army's New Future Employment and Training Centre in Falkirk got the chance to put questions to Margaret Mitchell, a Conservative MSP for Central Scotland. 

The event was the latest part of The Salvation Army's Scottish Election 2016 film project – a series of short films that will be used to highlight the main political parties’ responses to issues highlighted by the church and charity's frontline services. The issues are: drug and alcohol misuse, homelessness, employability, older people, and debt. The series of short films will be released on social media in the weeks before the Scottish Election on May 5, 2016.

Leaders or representatives from the five main political parties have accepted an invitation to visit a frontline Salvation Army service that deals with one of the issues in the films.

The five films will available to view on The Salvation Army's website here on the following dates:

• April 1 – Homelessness (The Pleasance Lifehouse, Edinburgh)

• April 8 - Older people's care (Eagle Lodge Care home, Leith)

• April 15 – Drug and alcohol misuse (Greenock Floating Support Service)

• April 22 – Unemployment (New Future Employability and Training Centre)

• April 29 – Debt (Debt Advice Centre and Foodbank, Edinburgh Gorgie)

Ms Mitchell MSP said: "I've been amazed at the width and depth of the services available at New Future to help people get back into work. It's been a real eye-opener.

"The centre is clearly a safe haven where men and women can receive can receive practical support. It's great to see the way Louise and her team are rebuilding people's self-esteem and confidence."

Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Roberts, The Salvation Army's Assistant to the Secretary for Scotland, said: "This is a great opportunity for The Salvation Army and our service users to ask the questions that matter. 

“The Salvation Army has a long history of seeking to help unemployed people achieve their full potential and escape welfare dependency.

“We're thankful to Ms Mitchell MSP for taking part in the question-and-answer session.”