A Salvation Army officer, Sarah, church leader of The Salvation Army in Eccles, is also a chaplain for Abbott Lodge, supported housing run by Salvation Army Homes in Salford for people who are homeless, and sees first-hand the work the church and charity does for the most vulnerable members of local communities.
Sarah and Joshua have chosen to raise money for The Salvation Army in their fundraising efforts with specific focus on the church and charity’s homelessness services and have high hopes of raising funds for the worthy cause.
Sarah said: “Homelessness is a topic that is very close to my heart and I see first-hand the homelessness crisis that is in Manchester, but it is also across the UK and coupled with poor and limited housing options and the cost of living crisis, the reality is that everyone is only a few pay checks away from being in a difficult situation if they don’t have the right level of support and that is scary.
“People that are homeless already face immeasurable challenges every day and need help in order to get their lives back on track; I don’t have all the answers but I know that with continued support and providing life skills and journeying alongside people experiencing homelessness like The Salvation Army does, means that people that would otherwise fall through the gaps can be helped to rebuild their lives and have hope for their future.”
No stranger to marathons, Sarah and Joshua have both taken part in the London Marathon before as well as the Manchester Marathon and have trained over the months with Sarah doing so in between running the church and community centre on Church Street, Eccles, and Joshua, a father-of-one and doctor who is currently half way through his seven year medical training to be an anaesthetist.
Sarah added: “Homelessness is such a deep-rooted issue, whether that is for someone who has been neglected as a child or fallen on hard times as an adult and whether I run, walk or crawl, I’ll be making it over that finish line, raising the funds to allow The Salvation Army to continue its work for the most vulnerable members of our communities.
“I feel very emotional to be taking part in such a worthwhile challenge alongside my son with us both running for the same cause; we’re united in fighting the same fight together and that, as a mother, makes me very proud!”
For anyone looking to support Sarah and Joshua, and contribute to the work of The Salvation Army, they can do so via donations to: justgiving.com/page/sarah-joshuajones.
The Salvation Army help people who are homeless across the UK regardless of their circumstances and without judgement. Operating over 78 supported accommodation services across the UK and Ireland providing over 3,000 beds every night, Salvation Army Lifehouses (hostels), are more than a place to stay, they are places where people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping can receive training, advice and a place to rebuild their lives.
Salvation Army Homes is a subsidiary of the church and charity and has been part of The Salvation Army family providing housing services since 1959. With over 4,000 homes, providing people in need of safety, security and opportunities with quality accommodation, Salvation Army Homes, together with the church and charity, help people on their journey of personal transformation and out of homelessness. As with Lifehouses (hostels) and drop-in services, Salvation Army Homes works with a variety of agencies, local authorities and specialist partners around the United Kingdom.