Inspiration at big green event at Norwich church
Free school uniform, a fibre farm and furniture recycling – not to mention the rejuvenation of souls – were all featured in the Salvation Army’s eco event.
by Helen Baldry
The event was held on June 13 at the church’s base of St Giles Street in Norwich. There were some fantastic crafts which upcycled wool and other materials and opportunities for people to get involved and try something new.
The eco event was held as part of the Climate Coalition's Great Big Green Week, which is a national initiative to encourage change – large and small to improve our communities and nature.
One of The Salvation Army’s mission priorities is ‘Care for Creation’, which prompted Major Tracey Bale to hold the event in Norwich. She said, “We’re trying to do all that we can to promote people being responsible; reusing things, recycling things, rather than throwing things away and buying things new.”
The Matthew Project had a display showcasing one of their furniture upcycling projects, which involved reimagining two tired-looking dining chairs into a garden bench. People supported by the Matthew Project made the bench, under the instruction of Kath at the charity’s woodwork studio, and the bench was gifted to the Salvation Army for use in their garden.
Tesco donated school uniform to the church and it was distributed to families who needed it, with some available at the event for people to take away free of charge. A film showed an initiative of the Salvation Army’s trading company which runs its many charity shops which features cutting-edge technology to recycle polyester so it can be re-threaded into yarn so can be reused to make more garments.
Tracey said of the Salvation Army, “We’ve always been classed as ‘Christianity with our sleeves rolled up’, so we’re always doing things to show God’s love in a practical way. It's through friendship evangelism really, it’s not something we’d ever force on people, but we hope they come to that realisation for themselves.”
The conversation of ‘upcycling’ people as a result of accepting God into their lives is one that Tracey and her fellow Salvation Army officers are ready to have with people. Tracey said, “He changes people’s lives. I don’t recognise myself from what I used to be like, because God has really changed my life, and I know he can do that for other people and their lives will be so much better for it.
“I want other people to have that fulfilment; to know that they are loved, that they are accepted for who they are, and that God doesn’t make rubbish.”
Rubbish featured in some of the church’s activities, as several of the congregation are keen crafters and able to rework fabric and thread into items to sell for charitable causes. Along with eco-tips and quilting and knitting workshops, there was plenty for visitors to get involved with and be inspired to look at the things we consume through an eco-friendly lens.
Pictured above: Tracey Bale with the school uniform donations from Tesco, and below: Kath from the Matthew Project with Major Barry Willson from the Salvation Army