March V 2014 E VIC Newsletter T E R A N S I Peaceful canal trip A DOZEN members of VIC enjoyed a leisurely trip on the canal boat Community Spirit. N Setting off from Portland Basin, they cruised along the Ashton Canal enjoying beautiful scenery and even nicer weather. They were guests of the East Community Boat Project. Derek Tunnicliffe also cele- C brated his birthday on board. O Future secure thanks to CCG

VIC’S successful pro- CCG in 2013. around model that offers VIC to continue to be an M gramme can keep “Now we have been veterans and their families a active member of each of the marching forward thanks awarded a further £80,000 host of different services and five East Armed M to the East Lancashire we can continue with our activities. Forces Community Clinical Commissioning work and expand over the “The range of interven- Covenant Partnership Group agreeing a further next 12 months. tions is from complex and Groups. “So much has happened therapeutic to social year of funding. Bob added: “This funding U in the last year. As an organ- interaction. Last year we were delight- secures our future for the isation we have made many “VIC’s unique knowledge ed that charity REAL next year. We will continue changes and taken positive of the requirements to with the work we have N assisted VIC to secure steps that have already promote the wellbeing of pioneered and will be able to £80,000 for our work to made a massive difference Military Veterans gives an further develop our network improve the lives of veterans to the lives of veterans and expertise that would not of volunteers who bring I and their families. their families. usually be found in general Now a further £80,000 “Although we started work NHS services. individual knowledge, has been agreed to ensure in Rossendale, we soon “Our motto of Return, experience and expertise to T the work of the charity is spread our wings and intro- Belong and Prosper sums enhance and support the secure for a further year. duced outreach into up the work of VIC. If we can work of VIC. Manager Bob Elliott said: Heywood and then into dif- help those who have served “We will continue to train I “It is fantastic to be ferent areas across East their country to feel a part of our staff and volunteers to recognised for the work that Lancashire with another out- their community and be able the highest of standards so we started last year, which reach service opening this to prosper within civilian life, they can deliver outreach E was possible thanks to the month. then we have met our aims.” effectively across East funding we received from the “We provide a wrap- The funding will enable Lancashire.” S www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] Helping hand New home for for veteran FLAGS will be flying high “We want to make sure in after VIC Haslingden has an official cel- wheelchair VIC helped 92-year-old secured a grant to ensure ebration for Armed Forces Day A WHEELCHAIR which was veteran James Burge who service personnel are and not just and donated to VIC has found a very good home. was struggling to cope round remembered. Helmshore. his home in Haslingden. The family of a veteran Manager Bob Elliott “We will also be officially Darren Horsnell visited explained: “We applied to who had passed away gave opening the VIC Centre on him on behalf of The Royal Lancashire County Council the electric wheelchair to VIC Wednesday June 25 during British Legion and managed and Ann Cheetham agreed to and manager Bob Elliott to arrange for a new carpet fund the £270 needed to Armed Forces Week.” said: “We put an appeal out throughout his ground floor purchase a Union flag and a Rossendale MP Jake Berry through our Facebook group flat, a new bed and bedroom flag of St George to be used in has also donated £50 towards and the chair has now been furniture. official ceremonies. an Armed Forces Flag. given to a veteran who was Because James did not facing a number of opera- have anyone to help him, tions and needed the chair to VIC members moved all his increase his mobility. old furniture to the tip, built all his new flat packed furni- Rotary talk ture and did other essential jobs around his home. VIC was invited by VIC has now offered to Rossendale Rotary Club to demolish a rotten shed in the speak to members about the back garden of an 82-year- charity and it’s work. old veteran because it is Last September VIC dangerous and a health risk. helped man some of the checkpoints for the annual Health Chat Round the Hills Walk. VIC was presented with a cheque for £250. We look training forward to working with the NEXT month will see the first Rotary Club further this year. of two Health Chat training sessions. Centre booking These will be held at THE VIC Centre’s training Heywood Sports Village on room is now going to be a Wednesdays April 16 and 23. regular venue for courses The two half-day training run by Lancashire Care NHS courses are for veterans and Trust. their families. The trust used the centre The new project will lead for an orientation session on to participants gaining a mindfulness. A further eight Royal Society of Public Imperial War Museum week programme is now Health level 2 Award in being planned and two Understanding Health members of VIC have Improvement. visit thanks to Rosso already signed up for the They will then be tasked VIC members enjoyed a lovely day out thanks to Rosso, course. to share their knowledge with the bus company in Rossendale, who took them to the other veterans and their Imperial War Museum and The Lowry in Salford. families. Manager Bob Elliott said: “We had 30 VIC members from Yard sale The courses concentrate Burnley, Rossendale and Manchester make the trip and they AYARD sale will be held at on a better understanding of were joined by family and workers at Rosso. It was an enjoyable the VIC Centre on Easter key health messages day out. Monday April 21. including healthy eating, “We have got a great partnership with Rosso and we hope to For more information on increasing activity, mental be running other trips in the future.” booking a stall contact Bob health and reducing alcohol Rosso kindly let VIC collect on bus routes in November and Elliott on 01706 833180. and tobacco intake. the money raised helped to fund a Christmas party for veterans. www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] OBITUARY Jimmy Barrett

IT IS with sadness that attended the VIC we have to report the outreach in death on February 22 of Rochdale. Jimmy Barrett. Jimmy was 92 and He was a veteran of the attended the VIC Second World War having Christmas Party for veterans served in the Royal Navy as a held at the IDL Club in Petty Officer. He was a mem- Haslingden. Our condolences ber of the VIC art club and also are with his family.

Choir call up Heywood open day Sculpture takes shape WORK to construct a willow tank on the gateway VIC’s military choir has got off on A SPECIAL open day is being held into Rossendale at Healey Corner, Whitworth, has the right note. at Heywood Sports Village on begun. The Veterans In Communities Thursday April 3. The half-size sculpture will be created by VIC choir, which is open to ex-service The open day will be from 10am to member David Joddrell who is weaving willow to personnel, their families and the mid afternoon when a host of different create a First World War tank. Once finished, pop- community holds sessions at the organisations will be represented pies, that have been specially imported from VIC Centre in Bury Road, Outreach worker Steve Butterworth Belgium, will be planted around and within the Haslingden. said: “We would like to say thank you to sculpture. Choirmaster and VIC member Link4Life, who run the centre, for letting It is part of a larger project being undertaken by Peter Webster said: “I am delight- us put the open day on. VIC members to complete restoration work on ed by the response. On the first “We will have a number of Whitworth Memorial Gardens. week Karen Rothwell, who is ex- organisations represented in the army, spotted the poster while community rooms including Mind, Inspire Grant aids VIC work walking her dog, took her dog and the drug awareness team and we home and then came back to join OUTREACH in Blackburn with Darwen has will be displaying examples of veterans’ the group. received a £500 boost from the council. The serv- artwork. “Then we had the managing ice, which will be starting this month at Darwen “There will also be a discounted director of Rosso Brian Juffs Town Hall, will be run by Pat O’Reilly and Danny swimming offered in the afternoon for come along and join us as he is Flaherty on a Tuesday from 10am to 1pm. members and there will also be a also ex-services.” badminton court available at a cost of The choir meets every Pendle outreach opens just £1.” Thursday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm PENDLE Armed Forces Group has opened a one Heywood outreach is held every and anyone wanting to know stop shop at the Ace Centre in Nelson. Suzanne Wednesday from 11am-2.30pm with more information can contact Preston, from VIC, is now holding outreach badminton from 3-4pm. Peter on 01706 833180. sessions every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Meet VIC’s mascot Ori HE’S only 2ft tall, has never ous,” said Darren. “My fiancée served his country but Ori has Tracey bought me Ori the orangutan become the latest member of hand puppet for Christmas because VIC. she knows I love wildlife and espe- He is not much of a conversation- cially gorillas. alist, unless he is with his ‘keeper’ “Now it has turned into her worst Darren Horsnell, arts and crafts co- nightmare as Ori has become our ordinator, who has a strange way of mascot and so goes wherever VIC making Ori talk. goes. But that hasn’t stopped him “He is even going to start up his becoming the charity’s mascot. own mascot committee along with “Not everything has to be seri- Gus the gorilla.” www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] What’s On and Where ROSSENDALE VIC update VIC Outreach Services VIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, MONDAY-FRIDAY BB4 5PL. THIS month VIC received 11am-1pm the best possible news – VIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, VIC Art Group and drop-in that we have received a BB4 5PL. FRIDAY grant from the CCG to MONDAY 11am-3pm secure our future for 2014. 10-12 noon VIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, Our relocation is com- Library, St James Square, Bacup, BB4 5PL. plete and the new centre in OL13 9AH Haslingden now boasts a Walking Group galley – thanks to the hard VIC Singing Group THURSDAY work of members. THURSDAY Walks are arranged on the 2nd and 4th Many of the rooms are 6.30-8pm Thursday, weather permitting. now shipshape and finished and we had our first ‘paying HEYWOOD guests’ in the form of Lancashire NHS Care Trust VIC Outreach Service 3pm-4pm who rented a room. WEDNESDAY Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, We would also like to say 11am-2.30pm Heywood, OL10 4TW. a big thank you to the widow Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, of author Bill Turner who Heywood, OL10 4TW. Walks will be held fortnightly on Thursdays donated a cheque for £100 Badminton combined with the Rossendale walking group. to VIC. Among other books, Bill BURNLEY wrote about the VIC Outreach Service 10am-2pm Pals who died in the Battle of the Somme. He was TUESDAY Retreat ‘n’ Recover Centre, 21 Hammerton Street, Burnley, BB11 1NA. always very supportive of the community centre which PENDLE is now our base. VIC Outreach Service 10am-1pm His widow Ruth toured WEDNESDAY Ace Centre, Cross Street, Nelson, BB9 7NN. the building and was delight- ed with the IT suite and art Combat Stress Helpline room, both of which she 0800 138 1619 said her husband would Contacts PCT Military Veterans Service have been a keen supporter. 0161 253 6638 Our popular walks contin- ued last month and Darren The Royal British Legion VIC – 01706 833180 led expeditions around Calf 08457 725 725 Hey Reservoir and Irwell Manager Bob Elliott Rossendale Citizens’ Advice Bureau Vale. On March 20 a walk [email protected] 0844 499 4121 (from a landline) will take place along the 07961 554 006 0300 456 2552 (from a mobile) canal towpath in Church and The Samaritans this will be combined with a Outreach Worker Steve Butterworth 01706 830999 fishing trip. [email protected] Mental Health Helpline Outreach sessions have 0500 639000 opened in Pendle and will Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator Darren Horsnell Monday to Friday 7pm - 11pm Saturday & be opening shortly in Blackburn with Darwen. [email protected] Sunday 12 noon to 12 midnight Our website is nearing East Lancashire Single Point of Access War Graves Project Co-ordinator Peter Webster completion so please log on via GP or self-referral to www.veteransincommuni- [email protected] 01282 657116 ties.org to keep up to date with all VIC news. VIC supported by:

East Lancashire www.facebook.com Supported by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Clinical Commissioning Group VIC Veterans In Communities Commissioning Group's social investment fund VIC News is produced by: Catherine Smyth Media. 01706 877150/ 07903 997375 www.catherinesmyth.co.uk