News

The Salvation Army wishes to reassure supporters and the broader community that all donations made to the Red Shield Appeal are used entirely for services and programs provided to more than one million people every year. 

“There has been some discussion in recent days regarding the Victorian Parliamentary Committee’s Inquiry into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and payment of claims to care leavers and confusion regarding how these claims have been funded,” said Major Neil Venables, Territorial Communications and Fundraising Secretary for The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory. 

“The Salvation Army has not used, and will not use, funds donated by the public to meet abuse claims from people who have left the care of The Salvation Army. These claims have been met using funds that have been generated through investments and set aside for these purposes” said Major Venables . 

“The trust the Australian community puts in The Salvation Army to assist people experiencing hardship and disadvantage through supporting the Red Shield Appeal is something we value greatly and we wish to assure our supporters and the wider community that we are using these funds as they expect,” he said. 

The Salvation Army assists more than one million people every year and a significant part of this service is made possible through the donations made by the community through the Red Shield Appeal. Funds raised through the Appeal are expended in the year they are raised and are entirely used to fund social services and support delivered through more than 1,000 different centres and programs across the country. 

“We wish to remain accountable and as part of this are transparent with our reporting. Each year in our annual report, which is publicly available from our website, we disclose the use of funds including funds allocated to meeting compensation claims for care leavers, which come from sources outside of the Red Shield Appeal for which I am responsible for,” said Major Neil Venables.

 
For further information or media comment please contact:
Dr Bruce Redman– Territorial Media Relations Director

The Salvation Army – Australia Southern Territory (Vic., SA, Tas., WA & NT)

Tel: 03 8878 2448            

Mob: 0417 537 950