It hopes to hammer out a long-term strategy for the future, improving the way it cares for the needy.

"We are reviewing all our programmes,'' the Salvation Army's coordinator for social services Mr. Cal Ming told The Royal Gazette .

"We are in the process of consulting all the users of our programmes to see how we are meeting their needs.

"Sometimes when you do this you can get a different perspective.'' Earlier, the internal review had been touched on by the Army's new divisional commander Major Merv Leach.

Mr. Leach had been invited to speak to Hamilton Lions at the Princess Hotel yesterday afternoon.

"We want to be looking at where we will be in 10 years from now,'' Mr. Leach said. "We are all aware we can only do what the community let's us do.'' Also a guest speaker was Mr. Ming, who said the Salvation Army had to look at its mission and motivation.

Mr. Ming said he found the Army an extremely exciting Christian-based organisation.

It conducted traditional and non-traditional services, he pointed out.

The traditional ones included Christmas programmes, for instance, while among non-traditional ones were special ministries for women.

But the Army could not run its services alone -- it had to build partnerships with other organisations, such as the whole Church.

"That means a great deal of time has to be forged in networking in our community.'' Mr. Ming gave the real-life example of a widow with two children, one of whom had dropped out of school. The woman was injured, unable to work, and had no medical coverage. Her children could not find employment.

The Army was able to help her, however, through networking with other agencies, and now the woman had a job with a security firm.

Mr. Ming said he was encouraged by the way Bermuda was beginning to work together in some areas.

"We are now in this community starting to break down territorial barriers between Government agencies and community agencies.'' Mr. Ming said the Army was developing alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes.

"It has been found that it is the spirtually based programmes that the longest lasting effects,'' he said.

Mr. Cal Ming