February V 2020 E VIC Newsletter T Project Worker and Administrator E R take up roles at VIC TWO new to assess my quality co-ordinator and part employees have of life.” of that was forming A started at VIC this At 35, that took partnerships which is month – our first him to UCLan in how she came across Project Worker for Preston where he VIC.” N Hyndburn and gained a First Class Being too late to Ribble Valley and a Honours Degree in apply for the new Administrator. History. He started his Administrator job, Ray Masters, but because saw the Project S Former Scots he was also lecturing Worker role and Guard Ray Sharkey, to give back and I am knew Amanda and he did not have the applied. from Haslingden, is looking at how best to Bob because VIC has time to complete it. He said: “Veterans now the Hyndburn serve my areas by always supported the He worked for an struggle to accept and Ribble Valley finding out from other Legion fun day that agency driving lorries that they may need I Project Worker and is Project Workers what we run each year. while on the courses help when they leave looking forward to works in their areas.” “I like this role but found it hard to the services; it took using his years of Welcome also to because no two days work half the day me 25 years to experience to help our new Administrator are the same. Last behind the wheel and understand that. N others. Amy Thompson, who week I was on a first still have the “When you leave He said: “I spent is volunteer Secretary aid course learning motivation to study. you don’t quite fit in five-and-a-half years of The Royal British about using a A major accident at the outside world; it serving in the Scots Legion in Haslingden. defibrillator. I like the home then left him was my wife who Guards and then two Amy has been unpredictability of the with irrevocable helped me to C years in the reserves. doing the admin work job and that you don’t damage to his arm understand that I had When I left, I started for the Commercial know each day what and unable to issues. building electricity Hotel, where her you have to do.” continue with his “I have walked pylons in Germany husband Dave is the Amy is also the driving career. down that road that O and I was working as landlord, and was Haslingden branch Ray said: “My wife veterans can find an overhead looking for a new role. standard bearer and Caroline is the themselves in; I have linesman. I moved Three years ago they deputy county financial services lead lost a house, I have M into communications got involved with the standard bearer and at East Lancashire been in debt and I and was building Legion and offered her daughter Millie, Hospice in Blackburn know how low it can masts, but I was their pub as a 14, is the deputy and last year she took get. M away from home a lot meeting place. branch standard on the remit of “Hopefully now I and decided I needed She said: “I already bearer. U volunteer project have got something ‘The Mess Tin’ opens N at Lighthouse Project

OUR Middleton Drop In is proving so I popular it is being relocating to a larger room at the Lighthouse Project. T It has also now been named ‘The Mess Tin’ and is attended by Project Worker Bev Fowler or Outreach Worker Steve I Butterworth. The café and drop in is on every Tuesday from 1pm-2.30pm at The Lighthouse Project, Middleton Shopping E Centre, M24 1AB.

S www.vic.org.uk Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] Partnership all sewn up THANKS to a post Nigel and Angela from ’80s for nine years. on the Oldham the organisation came While I was fortunate Breakfast Club out to see us they had to miss the Gulf War page, followed by a just got the licence to and the Falklands, I meeting with produce MoD have a lot of service Professional embroidery. “We are friends and I have Workforce Stitches providing them with seen some of their R Us, VIC has been charity collection toils. We wanted to buckets and will use support a local charity selected to be their the firm when we that is working with chosen charity. require more veterans, not a Operations embroidered clothing.” national one, because Manager Bob Elliott Partners Nigel and we wanted to know said: “We are very Angela Cullen run the that the money is grateful to the Oldham business. Nigel said: “I being spent locally, Breakfast Club for am a veteran and I and VIC work in our suggesting VIC. When was in the army in the area.” THE 75th anniversary art Haslingden £5 per head. Events of VE Day will be Community Link - Names and celebrated with a among many other payment is needed up Police talk weekend of events in events. front. To book contact OUTREACH Worker Steve for VE Colne, a street fair on On Saturday night Jimmy Ellis on 07534 Butterworth explained the Deardengate, in May 9, the Union Public 710068 or Tony Davies work of VIC and his role Haslingden, and an House in Colne will on 07904 984521. in the organisation at a Day 75 afternoon tea dance have a ’40s disco, cost meeting at Greater Manchester Police’s VIC members from Sedgley Park Complex. Rossendale and The event was to Burnley visited the highlight the work GMP is Wings Centre in carrying out to engage with Preston where they veterans and encourage got to meet other police forces to do veterans from similar in their areas. Skelmersdale Veterans Association Train club and the team from VIC is planning to start a the Lancashire model railway club at the Armed Forces Accrington Shop. Covenant Hub. It is propsed to use the basement of the shop in the VETERAN Paddy efforts to liberate Arndale to set up different VIP Paddy calls in (Harvey) O'Hara France. layouts and anyone who received a warm This medal was has any unwanted model welcome when he originally introduced railway track or locomotives or scenery can call in the to Accrington shop called into our by Napoleon and shop or ring the centre on Accrington Shop at remains the highest 01706 833180. Arndale Centre. award that the The 97-year old, Republic of France who was awarded the can give for Legion d'Honneur outstanding military service. I had a fantastic craft medal in 2016 was morning with my young brought in by his Paddy is a real character and has daughter at the Accrington grandson who also VIC shop this morning. served. already shared some ‘ Thanks to all who made The medal was in of his experiences with our staff. He has also this an enjoyable experience recognition of the for her. outstanding promised to return to the shop when the Thank you contribution that he Gary Horrocks made in 1944 in the weather warms up. ’ www.vic.org.uk Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] Co-op stores raise £1,334 STAFF and customers from Rossendale’s Co-operative supermarkets raised an incredible £1,334 for VIC. A variety of events were held throughout the year at the stores in Haslingden, Waterfoot and Whitworth including tombolas, raffles and events to mark special occasions. VIC Operations Manager Bob Elliott said: “We were overwhelmed by the amount raised by our three Co-operative supermarkets and would like to say a huge Course to save lives thank you to the staff and customers.” VETERAN Craig Craig Fort, Manager of the Harrison from Haslingden store, said: “We Lancashire Adult chose VIC because we wanted Learning delivered to support a local charity and a Lancashire VIC works throughout Lifesavers course Rossendale.” at the VIC Centre. The course consisted of basic Bob Ross class lifesaving skills and how to use a A TRICKY log cabin picture proved defibrillator. no problem for members of the Bob Future courses Ross painting class at VIC and once that are being again stunning artwork was planned include produced. understanding The next class, on Saturday February dementia and 29, will be producing a beautiful spring microwave cooking. woodland scene. and they normally finish around 3pm. Classes cost £40 per person with all Tea and coffee is provided but a materials supplied. They start at packed lunch is advised. Places are 10.30am, but participants are asked to limited and a £15 non refundable deposit arrive 15 minutes early to get organised, is required to book. VIC walks GETTING up and active is often a New Year’s resolution and the walking group at VIC is ensuring people can groups set out from March 19 the hidden honour their pledge. Jumbles Reservoir. valley of Sabden Members have One did a 5.5 mile Brook in Pendle will been out and about walk and the other be explored. since the last group walked round The crew van will newsletter and they the reservoir. leave the VIC Centre enjoyed a six mile On March 5 there at 9.30am and a walk around will be an eight-mile voluntary donation of Haslingden Grane walk from Whitehouse £3 is requested to and the first walk of Public House, cover transport costs. the year saw two Littleborough, and on www.vic.org.uk Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] What’s On and Where

ROSSENDALE THURSDAY BURNLEY AND PENDLE Activities are held at the VIC Centre, Bury Computer and IT help drop-in Road, Haslingden, BB4 5PL, unless otherwise Outreach Service 11am-3pm stated. TUESDAY - alternate weeks VIC Choir (weekly) Breakfast Club at Burnley FC in the Outreach Service 6.30-8.30pm Community Cafe, Charter Walk. MONDAY-FRIDAY FRIDAY 9am-11am 9am-4.30pm Art Group and drop-in For a home appointment call 01706 833180 10am-3.30pm Contact 01706 833180 for dates of outreach MONDAY SECOND SATURDAY at Burnley FC in the Community, the Pendle Crafty Chatters Rossendale Armed Forces and Veterans’ Armed Forces Support Group, Holmefield 10am-12 noon Breakfast Club Mill, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, at Morrisons WEDNESDAY 10am-12.30pm in Nelson and Asda in Colne. Allotment and Veterans In Production The Link Cafe, Haslingden Community Link, Help on the allotment in Holcombe Road, Bury Road, Haslingden BB4 5PG HEYWOOD, Helmshore, or manufacture wooden items EVERY MONTH at the centre. Contact 01706 833180. Painting in the Style of Bob Ross art MIDDLETON AND Art Class classes Contact Darren 01706 833180. ROCHDALE 2pm-4pm Walking Group, Social Outings and The Sandbag Cafe and drop in Jubilee Court, Jubilee Road, Haslingden, Outdoor Activities These are held every TUESDAY BB4 4DD. THURSDAY. Visit the Events section on our 10am-noon THURSDAY VIC Facebook page or the VIC website and Sandon House, Taylor Street, Heywood Woodworking Course follow the link to Projects and Activities. OL10 1EF. 10am-3pm VIC Outreach TUESDAY 9.30am-11.30pm RIBBLE VALLEY 12.30pm-2.30pm Ebenezer's Coffee Shop, The Old Chapel, Outreach Service Middleton Gardens, M24 1AB Ebenezer's Terrace, Billington, BB7 9NN. TUESDAYS The Mess Tin cafe and drop in 1pm-2.30pm The Lighthouse Project, Middleton Shopping VIC – 01706 833180 Contacts Centre, M24 1AB. Chief Executive Amanda Walton Combat Stress Helpline THURSDAY [email protected] 0800 138 1619 9am-10.30am Rochdale Breakfast Club NHS Military Veterans Psychological Rochdale Town Hall Bistro OL16 1AB. Operations Manager Bob Elliott Therapies Service (NW) 10.30am-noon [email protected] 07961 554 006 0300 323 0707 VIC Outreach The Royal British Legion Administrator Amy Thompson 1 Riverside, Rochdale OL16 1UB. 0808 802 8080 7 days a week 8am-8pm [email protected] SSAFA HYNDBURN Outreach Worker Steve Butterworth email [email protected] [email protected] 01772 260 462 Outreach Service and Art Group Project Worker Bev Fowler Rossendale Citizens’ Advice TUESDAY [email protected] 07741 902 343 0300 456 2552 10am-3pm Project Worker Ray Sharkey The Samaritans VIC Shop, Accrington Arndale Centre, BB5 [email protected] 01282 694929 Mon to Fri 9am-9pm 1PL. Transformational Coach Gill Hughes Freephone 116 123 FRIDAY [email protected] 07741 902 411 Mental Health Helpline Outreach Service Volunteer Support Worker Mel Fitzgerald 0800 915 4640 Mon to Fri 7pm - 11pm Sat 10.30am-3pm [email protected] & Sun 12 noon to 12 midnight Royal Air Forces Association Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator Darren Horsnell 0800 018 2361 [email protected] Want to help? Veterans UK Free Helpline Outdoor Activities Co-ordinator Ivy Limbrick 0808 1914 218 To donate to support the work of VIC please [email protected] East Lancashire Single Point of Access Sessional Worker Bernard Tighe via GP or self-referral visit our website and click on the secure [email protected] 01282 657116 Virgin Money Giving link VIC Choir Bookings Barry Hyde Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans [email protected] www.bafc4v.org 01204 776628 www.veteransincommunities.org/donate.html

VIC supported by: East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group www.facebook.com VIC Veterans In Communities

VIC News is produced by: Catherine Smyth Media. 01706 877150/ 07903 997375 www.catherinesmyth.co.uk