Erdington’s Toddlers’ Army
July 2009
 The Salvation Army church in Erdington, Birmingham has added a Baby Song session to its toddler’s group – and both have come to mean so much in the lives of local mothers and their infants. The toddlers’ group meets at the Station Road church every Wednesday between 9.30am – 11.00am with the Babysong session taking between 10.00am – 10.30am.
“We had been looking for something new to take my 18 month old daughter Lacey to,” said local mum Rachel Bayliss, 31, (pictured second left). “We saw a leaflet about what The Salvation Army was planning to do and it sounded really good. We brought Lacey and she loves it! It’s the first thing she talks about when she wakes up on Wednesday mornings!
“It was nice for me too,” continued Rachel, a full-time mother of three who lives in Chester Road, Erdington. “My first two children went to playgroup and sometimes it can be daunting for parents too but the staff here are so welcoming to us. Within weeks of coming we felt like we’d been there for years!”
Impressed
Jo Fradley, 39 (pictured second right), of Short Heath Road, is so impressed with the impact The Salvation Army toddlers’ group is having on her four year old daughter Jorja that she now also volunteers in the kitchen preparing refreshments for the children and other parents. “I think I’ll carry on even when Jorja starts going to school. I had never been to any Salvation Army centre before and I didn’t know what to expect. I am so impressed with what they do and how pleasant the people and the premises are.”
“We are really glad that the groups are so well received,” said church leader Major Lesley Harris (pictured centre). “It is so important to offer the kinds of support that people in this area need.”
Although best known as a charity with a presence in 118 countries worldwide, The Salvation Army is an international Christian church too.
Military
 The church and charity was started by Midlands-born Methodists William and Catherine Booth in London in 1865 who wanted to help the hungry, poor and non-believers outside their church building and welcome them in. The organisation began life as The East London Christian Mission in 1865 and was renamed The Salvation Army in 1878, adopting military terms to inspire its members and emphasise that Christians are an army at war against evil. To help emphasise this, many Salvation Army members wear distinctive uniforms, their churches called corps and church leaders called corps officers with ranks such as Captain, General and Major, with countries referred to as territories.
Today, The Salvation Army offers both social and spiritual support and guidance to all, regardless of race or background. Most of its 700 plus corps (churches) in the UK, including 49 in the West Midlands, host a range of activities such as day care centres for young and old, friendship groups, luncheon clubs, charity shops and church-based worship services. The Salvation Army also helps rebuild lives through its residential centres (there are eight in the West Midlands), which provide the homeless, elderly, children and broken families with accommodation, life skills/ resettlement/ rehabilitation and detox programmes.
In Erdington, The Salvation Army holds a range of meetings and social events to which all are welcome:
Mondays - 10.30am: CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other) social gathering for all, followed by a 12noon Luncheon Club, then at 1.30pm a ladies’ meeting. Sundays at 10.30am, the church holds its Morning Worship services followed by a lunch on the last Sunday of every month.
The local church also runs a charity shop from 9 New Street, Erdington, B23 6SD, which is open from every day except Wednesdays and Sundays between 10-4pm. It sells a wide range of quality used goods – including books, music, clothes and welcomes donations.
Rachel said: “I really enjoy bringing Lacey here and would encourage any mother looking for somewhere good to take their little ones to come to The Salvation Army too!
“We are so pleased to hear of the difference The Salvation Army is making to local people,” smiled Major Lesley. “After all, that’s what we are all about.”
Further enquiries:
For more information on the groups or Erdington Salvation Army’s work, call 0121 350 5151. To make enquiries about the charity shop call 0121 377 7220.
Further details about The Salvation Army in the locality are available at
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