03/06/2026
Training Days at Denmark Hill: Rennox and Shane Take on the The Salvation Army’s Addiction Course.
If you happened to spot Rennox and Shane looking particularly deep in thought around Denmark Hill this week, there is a very good reason for it.
The duo have traded their usual daily routines for the lecture halls of William Booth College in London, diving headfirst into one of the most vital training programs the Salvation Army offers its team: the Understanding the Causes and Consequences of Addiction course.
For anyone unfamiliar with the campus, William Booth College is the historic, tree-lined heart of Salvation Army training and education in the UK. Stepping onto the grounds always brings a sense of purpose, but this week, the focus for Rennox and Shane is intensely practical.
Dismantling the Stigma.
The Salvation Army doesn't just provide frontline support; it invests heavily in ensuring its employees truly understand the complex realities of the people they serve. This intensive course isn't just a surface-level overview.
Over the block of study, Rennox and Shane have been breaking down:
The Root Causes: Looking past the surface behaviors to explore the deep-seated trauma, mental health battles, and socioeconomic factors that so often trigger substance dependency.
The Biological and Psychological Impact: Understanding how addiction rewires the brain, making it clear why "just quitting" is never as simple as it sounds to the outside world.
The Ripple Effect: Examining the intense consequences that addiction carries—not just for the individual, but for families, communities, and the wider social support systems.
Iron Sharpening Iron.
Between the dense lectures and interactive workshops, the experience has been as much about connection as it has been about curriculum.
Spending days alongside fellow Salvation Army employees from all over the territory means the coffee breaks and lunch hours have been filled with shared stories, different perspectives, and a lot of mutual encouragement. It is intense, eye-opening, and at times emotionally heavy work. But both Rennox and Shane have noted how invaluable it is to step back from the day-to-day frontline pressures to gain this kind of deep, empathetic framework.
The Final Stretch.
With just one day left of the course before Rennox and Shane head home tomorrow, the duo are reflecting on an incredible week.
Both have thoroughly enjoyed the course and want to extend a massive thank you to the facilitators. It takes a special skill to handle such a serious, heavy topic and make it so engaging, interactive, and fun, and the trainers did exactly that.
Addiction is rarely a choice; it is a complex landscape where pain meets the human drive to survive it. To truly support someone in its grip requires looking past the dependency itself to understand the unseen battles that built it, remembering that recovery is not a test of willpower, but a journey of healing that begins with being seen, heard, and understood.
