Small book, big impact for the Shire

Shire Salvos employee Liz Atlee with the local impact report she designed, standing with Shire Salvos Mission Leader Mark Soper.

An Impact Report document, designed by the Shire Salvos Team in southern Sydney, has been a positive tool for raising awareness of the positive work of The Salvation Army in the local area.

Shire Salvos Mission Leader Mark Soper said every year, The Salvation Army’s national communications team releases an impressive impact report for donors, and his local team wanted to replicate that on a smaller scale to engage with local business leaders.

“We were having a Red Shield Appeal launch breakfast this year, our first one since the COVID lockdowns, and a lot had changed within our missional space,” he said. “So, we wanted to produce a document that was able to relaunch who we are, what we do and how people can partner with us.”

The report was written and designed by members of the ALT and contains stories of transformation, lists of services available at each ALT location, and QR codes that direct readers to the Shire Salvos Red Shield Appeal digital doorknock page.

“We’re lucky to have an amazingly creative woman working with us part-time who designs stuff for us on Canva,” said Mark. “The report is something we can take with us to stakeholder meetings when we approach business people for support or give to local media.”

2508 Salvos, a missional outpost connected to Shire Salvos, even created a more local Impact Report for its unique missional area.

2508 Salvos Mission Leader Lauren Martin said Helensburgh and the surrounding 2508 suburbs are a very distinct local community, separate from both Sydney (to the north) and Wollongong (to the south). “So, I created a 2508 Salvos Impact Report because our people just want to know about what’s happening here,” Lauren said.

“With the Red Shield Appeal initiative that allows local Salvation Army corps and centres to spend money raised locally, I think it’s really important to be able to document and educate our donors on where their money is being spent.

“I believe it will lead to deeper and more lasting partnerships.”

You can download the Shire Salvos impact report here: Social_Impact_Shire_Salvos_2023