A coffee shop on wheels is opening up new avenues for The Salvation Army to reach young people across the north west of England.
The Brew Van is offering a drink and a chat in student communities across Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria. The youth team works with chaplains to offer pastoral support and share more about the church.
Darren Highton, youth specialist in the north west, told Premier Christian News that The Salvation Army was passionate about reaching students at what can be a difficult and lonely time at university; providing a friendly face, support and sharing the good news of Jesus.
“It’s an opportunity to be part of the community,” he said, “the Brew Van was intended to be something that we could take around, and be a part of conversations in different places. It gives us avenues where we can talk about so many different things, in spaces where we wouldn’t normally get to.
“There’s a lot of young people that are wanting to have conversations about their faith and the situations they are in,” Highton added.
The Brew Van’s commitment to Fair Trade has also been a point of conversation for visitors, allowing the team to share their beliefs and the stories behind the products. Students can enjoy specialist coffees and teas, hot chocolate, cold drinks and biscuits.
It comes at a time when students are increasingly looking to coffee shops and eateries as a way to socialise, with a decline in alcohol consumption.
Highton also shared how young people involved in The Salvation Army’s work have the opportunity to take part in its outreach and evangelism, in a safe but challenging environment.
The van once used to be an emergency response vehicle, saved from being scrapped. Everything in the van is powered by energy-efficient batteries that are charged via a standard household plug.
All proceeds from the Brew Van will go back into supporting The Salvation Army’s children and youth work across the north west.