David Oliver: Lt. Col. Carol Bailey - Salvation Army

A senior officer from the Salvation Army was introduced as the speaker at the Rotary Club last week by President Scott Elliot.  Lt Col Carol Bailey, who has 35 years service and had formerly been captain of the Corps at Hawick, made a return visit to the town to inform members of the Edinburgh Prison Visitors Centre which has been managed by the Army since 2004 along with The Onward Trust.  The prison has 900+ inmates (including several women) and the visitors centre is responsible for booking in all the prisoner's visiting family and friends which totals about 50,000 a year.  The centre has 8 staff and is there to assist by reducing visitor's anxiety and being able to advise with housing, welfare, benefits and debt advice.  It especially helps in looking after the children including facilitating fathers in prison sitting with their children and supporting them to help with their school homework.  They also offer full family support where required and advise inmates and their dependants in understanding their rights.  They also run a cafe which specialises in healthy eating and low-cost nutritional food options which is alien to many of the visitors.  It is important that staff display the enthusiasm and motivation which is impassioned by the mission and vision of the Salvation Army.  Many questions ensued and David Oliver, a Salvationist, thanked Carol for her excellent and thought-provoking address on a serious subject.