The Salvation Army has been picking the brains of community leaders during a major review of its programmes.

Among those who have been questioned are top politicians, churches, the senior magistrate, and the Bermuda Industrial Union.

This week the Salvation Army's new divisional commander Major Merv Leach revealed some of the ideas: A big improvement in communication to publicise the role of the Salvation Army; Forging links with the BIU, so skilled craftsmen can help Salvation Army "clients'' receive job training; Getting more involved in youth programmes.

There had also been strong backing for a proposal to set up a "half-way'' house for former prisoners, said Major Leach.

This scheme would help wean inmates back into the community, and provide them with job skills.

The Salvation Army has embarked on the review in a bid to prepare a strategy for the next three to five years.

The "action plan'' may even look ahead as far as ten years, said Major Leach.

"The bottom line is we want to see how we can be as effective as possible. We do not want to stand still, we need to evaluate ourselves.'' He added: "It may be that we need to emphasise more on what we are doing in some areas, and less in others.

"We may need to proceed into more avenues of service, or get out of them.'' Major Leach explained the Salvation Army was working with prison psychologist Dr. Derrick Binns.

Dr. Binns had taken on the job of "facilitator'', and was advising the Army on how best to carry out the review.

An external and internal analysis was under way, with the help of comprehensive questionnaires.

Major Leach said 25 people had already been interviewed, among them people from Government and private agencies, church and community groups, social services, the BIU, and the courts.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade were also approached, as well as Salvation Army "clients'' -- those who use what the Christian organisation has to offer.

In addition, the Army had passed out questionnaires to its own officers and staff as part of an internal analysis.

"It is really a self critique. At present we are collating all the information from both the internal and external reviews,'' said Major Leach.

Salvation Army lays out plans From Page 1 He added the Army's Planning Council -- of which he is the chairman -- would meet in the first week of June to discuss the findings, and produce a report with recommendations.

"It will come out as an action plan, and put what we intend doing in a time-frame, so people will know what we will do and when.

"It could be a public report, I don't see why not. I can't imagine why it should be secretive.'' He added: "One of the things that is already coming through loud and clear is the need for communication.

"It is felt we do not communicate well enough with the community and tell people what we do. We will have to deal with that.

"One way would be to use the media more, and to send out Press releases.

"Very few people, for instance, know that we have a Family Tracing Service, which is a missing person's bureau of sorts. We have a network around the world.'' The publicity over the Red Shield Appeal was a good example of how positive promotion can work.

"Maybe, we are not very good at blowing our own horn,'' said Major Leach.

Major Leach said while the review was being carried out, the Army was embarking on other ventures.

"We are still at the negotiating stage with Government for a half-way house for former prisoners so we can integrate them into the community, and move them into a house setting where they can receive training with job applications, life skills, employment skills.'' A budget had been submitted to Government, although the Army had no particular building in mind for this scheme, said Major Leach.

It was estimated the first year of operation would cost about $400,000, including rent, and providing staff and food.

Major Leach explained the half-way house would cater for between 15 and 18 former inmates, who would be under the supervision of parole services.

The programme would be called "The Bridge'' -- signifying the bridge from prison to civilian life.

Another Army proposal, said Major Leach, was to run a day-care shelter where homeless people could drop in for "fellowship, food, counselling and life skills training''.

Major Merv Leach