The Salvation Army Warm Hearts campaign (Image: Getty)
Its unmistakable bands, tireless community work and annual drive to spread Christmas joy for everyone have helped make The Salvation Army one of the world’s most recognisable charities.
But the husband and wife team who head the UK and Ireland operations aren’t resting on their laurels; they know there is as much need now as there was 160 years ago. Christmas in 2024 might look quite different from when The Salvation Army started work in the East End of London all those years ago but many people are still cold, hungry and lonely and turn to The Salvation Army for help.
The Sunday Express has teamed up with The Salvation Army this year for our Christmas ‘Warm Hearts’ campaign which calls on everyone to spread compassion and kindness to people in need.
Paul, 60, and Jenine Main, 64, who have been Salvation Army officers for 38 years took over as leaders of The Salvation Army in UK and Ireland territory this year. They explain how, as most of us sit down for a long turkey dinner with family and friends, thousands of Salvationists, officers and volunteers will work hard to bring Christmas joy to people who need it most.
Jenine said: “Some of our favorite Salvation Army memories are Christmas related; when you’re serving other people and bringing joy and hope to those who would otherwise be alone. I also enjoy sharing Christmas with people who volunteer. We often find the volunteers for Christmas Day just want to be in somebody else’s company or want to help.”
This love for Christmas has been present since Jenine was young and an active member in a Salvation Army band.
She recalls: “I would play carols around the ‘old people’s homes’ as they were then called. On Christmas Day we’d go around about four or five of them. There was no real time to open presents or have a relaxed breakfast, it was straight out with The Salvation Army band until lunchtime, and then we could go home and have Christmas dinner and open presents and things afterwards. I loved being part of that band and the fun and the joy we brought to other people.”
Paul smiles and reminisces about his favourite memories as a child giving practical help to those who were less fortunate.
He said: “I think my childhood memory would be going to the Pleasance homeless hostel on Edinburgh Mile as a probably 8–9-year-old. We would hold a service with the men in the hostel and then we would serve Christmas lunch. I remember serving the soup and my brother was peeling the potatoes.
Salvation calling on us to have “Warm Hearts” (Image: Getty)
“What is stuck in my memory is the life lesson that reminds me that it’s not all about you it’s about giving something for the sake of others.”Although The Salvation Army is known for its work at Christmas, the Maines are keen to point out that the work doesn’t stop when the Christmas decorations are packed away. Throughout the year The Salvation Army finds practical and sometimes unusual ways to help. “Back in the late 90s, when we were running a Salvation Army corps at Wrexham, we started a Tuesday ‘T’ club. Everyone is really aware of the crisis now but back then we noticed that there were local children who lived in poverty and they weren’t being fed regularly. So we started an activity club and we cooked to give them an hour of fun and food,” Paul said.Paul goes on to add that The Salvation Army is still being innovative to help community needs. He had just been to Blackpool to open a house that the local Corps bought with donated money in partnership with Salvation Army Homes (the church and charity’s Housing Association). The house will act as a place to move people on to from our Bridge Project which helps homeless people with food, help into supported accommodation. Their vision is in time we will have 20 houses in Blackpool for people who need us to help them out of homelessness.The couple are also deeply concerned for children who may have nothing to unwrap this Christmas and a lack of physical and emotional support throughout the year.Jenine said: “My heart breaks particularly for young children who are waking up every day hungry and perhaps with parents who are unable to care for them for different reasons. Those children get themselves up, go to school hungry, they may not have clean clothes and they are often marginalised for these things.“My hope is that The Salvation Army, the Government and the education system could break through into some of those situations and support even just some of those children to have a slightly safer, securer life.“We get a lot of referrals from schools at Christmas identifying families who might struggle to provide a gift for their children at Christmas and (…) so many Salvation Army corps will be giving out toy parcels and food parcels over Christmas time. Giving a child what might be their only gift at Christmas is a way of spreading that joy. My hope would be that we extend that beyond Christmas, not with toys all the time, but with some general support and help for those children that seem to suffer every day.”The couple reflected that the surprising lesson from years of working in different communities was that poverty and discrimination could hide in any area, however wealthy it appeared on the surface.Paul shares: “We have worked in the Inner City of Liverpool and the Isle of Man which are very different places but both have people in crisis that need help. It is probably more visible in the inner city than it is in towns and villages. It’s hidden more, but the need is there.“This is the sad thing in today’s society; the impact the economic environment is having on some people.”When asked to sum up over 70 years of service between them, they explain it’s just about getting things done. “Every day is different,” said Paul. “Wherever you go around the country you will see The Salvation Army responding to the needs of that local community, whatever they feel that need is.”
Salvation Army Band (Image: Getty)
Oscar said: “I’m grateful to all the people who decided to help and make this what it is. It makes me feel good about myself because I’m helping people. My friends have been really supportive and have been donating and the school set up donation points too. Without the school, I don’t think we would have got as many, I’m so grateful that they chipped in.”Oscar’s mum Emma, 44, said: “I can’t comprehend what he’s achieved with it. It started as something out of the blue a couple of years ago after a conversation we had about how you spread the joy of Christmas for younger children who believe in Santa, but whose parents can’t afford to put presents under the tree.“We thought we would have a couple of carrier bags to donate, but the first year the response blew us away and it has again this year. It’s a community effort. Oscar initiated it, but it’s the people going out of their way to buy gifts and drop them off who make the difference.“We are already thinking about who will receive these presents. It shocks me when I read about the amount of referrals The Salvation Army gets for its appeal every year, so knowing that Oscar is helping to take that pressure off families is a nice thing. Even Father Christmas needs a little bit of help!”For more information on Batley Salvation Army visit
Twelve year old Oscar Sheard might not climb down chimneys or ride with herds of reindeer, but that hasn’t stopped him delivering his 1000th present for children with nothing,For the last three years Oscar has saved up his birthday cash and raised money with family and friends to donate gifts to The Salvation Army in Batley, West Yorkshire.This year he donated around 600 presents, following 200 in 2022 and 250 in 2023.He was helped by his parents’ business and his school to deliver a bus load of toys, dolls, jigsaws, books, arts and craft sets, and much more to The Salvation Army.The Christmas Present Appeal collects donations of new gifts to distribute to families who are struggling financially, bringing a smile to the faces of thousands of children on Christmas morning. Last year, The Salvation Army donated 84,000 gifts to children across the UK.
Salvation Army ‘warm hearts’ campaign (Image: Getty)
Sunday Express Christmas blessing to readers by Salvation Army captain Major Jo Moir
As we approach Christmas we can sometimes find ourselves trapped in a unique blend of anticipation, stress, reflection, and mayhem. It’s easy to feel surrounded, even overwhelmed by the noise of Christmas; the Carol singing, the Christmas meals, present shopping, decorations.
For some of us Christmas is chaos! School nativities, office parties, visits from the in-laws. For some of us it can be a difficult time, perhaps if someone important is not here this year- the dread of that first Christmas with an empty seat at the table. And for some of us, Christmas is a time of loneliness, just another day on our own without visitors, without company.
It’s possible, that in the noise and stress and the anticipation of Christmas we can miss the moments that matter; cherishing memories of those who have passed away, creating new memories with family and friends, helping out a neighbour who would otherwise be alone, volunteering in the community and showing kindness to a stranger, or the look of joy on someone’s face as they open a gift that was chosen just for them. There are deeper moments possible too when we pause all the noise and think about the quiet, humble birth of Jesus who was born into simple surroundings, worshipped by Kings and shepherds alike and would grow up to bring hope to those who feel alone, comfort to those who are bereaved, peace to those who feel overwhelmed and light to those who feel they are in darkness.
Whatever your Christmas looks like I hope you will be able to find space within all the festivities to stop, find the joy in the chaos, share some kindness with your neighbours and open your heart to the message of peace, hope and light that came not just for shepherds and kings but for all of us.
If you’re finding this season difficult and need to pause for a moment why not share this prayer with me:
Lord God, Thank you for this time of celebration. Thank you for the memories of Christmas past and loved ones who meant so much. Thank you for the reality of my present Christmas, help me to make the most of each opportunity, to cherish each relationship and to ask for your help with the challenges I am facing right now. Thank you for the promises for Christmas future and the message Jesus brought to be with us in days of darkness and of joy, to walk with us when we feel alone and to carry us when we feel we cannot go on.
In the midst of this busy time will you give me moments of joy, glimpses of peace and reminders of your hope. Amen
God bless you, Happy Christmas