July V 2015 E VIC Newsletter T E R A N S I VIC making a difference

COMMUNITY projects in Colne, outskirts of Rossendale. local primary school involved to N Loveclough and have “I just wondered if you guys knew ensure they are not permitted to get in been completed this month. about it and if you could perhaps tidy it such a state in the future. VIC members have finished work at up?” “In the meantime I will try to visit Dave Fishwick’s Minibus Sales where When VIC attended they found six once a year and give them a tidy.” we rebuilt a wall and painted railings. graves of First World War soldiers. Manager Bob Elliott said: “We have We responded to an inquiry from an Volunteer worker Bill Ogden, who also just completed work on a C completed the work with Mick, said: community project at Westbourne amateur First World War researcher who found a neglected “We have cleaned up all the six sheltered accommodation in Commonwealth War Grave covered graves. We have done our best to Haslingden to create raised beds for O with mould. remove the discolouration as a result the residents to use. Anne King contacted VIC to say: of being positioned under trees. “We are now looking for more “It’s the first time I have seen a CWGC “We also cut back the tree lines to community projects for our veterans to M covered in green mould. ensure that all six graves are now undertake. If you have a project you “I’m sure it’s because it is in a more easily accessible. need help with please contact 01706 M or less forgotten cemetery on the “The idea now is to try and get the 833180.” U N I T I E

S www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] Art offer VETERANS can now benefit from a 10 per cent reduction at VIC’s Positive Art Shop if they are a member of the Rewards for Forces website. The shop, on Bury Road, , is open from Veterans on track Crew Van’s Thursdays to Sundays. Rewards for Forces are WE GOT the chance to Capers also offering a cinema race go-karts against a discount that may be of number of injured WHERE has Crew Van has interest and anyone wanting veterans from Kartforce, been this month? to know more can log on to celebrities and other ò Crew Van took members to a walk in www.rewardsforforces.co.uk teams. Pendle when they went on The Harley Street Skin the Witches Trail; Clinic organised the Family fun ò It helped members to sponsored event Back on attend several events during A HOST of activities have Track to raise money for Armed Forces Week; been arranged by St Mary’s Kartforce and injured troops. the teams got to race for 30 ò Crew Van was used to Football Club in Haslingden Two lucky VIC members minutes and were then called take members, and our to support VIC. former military musician Peter in to the pits to switch drivers. assault course, to Whitaker The family fun day will be Webster and Tony Stubbs, The races were run Park in Rawtenstall for held at the club on South who served in the Kings Own according to Formula 1 rules Rossendale Hospice charity Shore Street on August 8 Royal Border Regiment, got to and both Tony and Peter walk; from 2pm to 8pm. take part. found themselves in the ‘sin ò It helped transport Entertainment will be They travelled to the bin’ when they passed a kart items to our community provided by the VIC Singing Daytona Race Track at that had spun. project in Haslingden; Group and Lyric. A Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. Peter added: “The karts ò Crew Van was also in barbecue will be held and Peter said: “It was an went up to 55mph and when I Colne at David Fishwick’s their will be fun activities, a absolutely fantastic day and I was doing my laps it started Minibus Sales where we car boot sale and a host of went down with my son raining making the track finished rebuilding a wall other attractions. Lewis who is 15 and he loved harder to drive on. and painting railings. it too. The adrenaline rush “I took one corner at Give us a wave if you Fancy dress was amazing. All of your 55mph and I crashed and see Crew Van in your area. AFANCY dress walk for problems went away when spun the kart through 360 Rossendale Hospice was you were on the race track degrees three times and marshalled by members of “There was a team from bounced off the tyre wall. I VIC. Top Gear and The Stig was was fine and so I just carried The walk, on July 19, on the track at the same as on racing. was around Rawtenstall me and I passed him twice.” “We came 14th out of the and VIC set up a mini Tony said: “It was a 24 teams that took part, which assault course at the start pleasure being invited and was fantastic and I definitely and finish point at Whitaker meeting other veterans and want to do it again.” Park for the walkers who also meeting celebrities and Manager Bob Elliott said: CREW Van has been took part. also racing against each “We have been invited back modified to make the other. and will continue to work with vehicle even more useful New flags “There was a beautiful Kartforce in the future. Dave atmosphere where the Player, the founder of to our organisation. THANKS to a donation by celebrities got involved with Kartforce, has offered ideas A side awning has been County Councillor David the race and when we and support for our members added meaning we can turn Stansfield two new Union crashed in to each other. to get more experience. the van into a stall, a roof Flags have been bought to Everyone was brilliant and “There is a track in rack has been fitted so we be displayed at Greenfield they were nice people. I will and we are can utilise the space and we Gardens at the War never forget that day.” looking at putting our own will soon also have a useful Memorial. Each of the four members in team in next time.” towbar. www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] Inclusion SEVERAL family friendly social inclusion activities Remembering Sophie have been planned for the school holidays. On July 30 there will ACCRINGTON and Rossendale At Victoria Park in Haslingden, they be a family walk around Prince’s Trust volunteers who have also planted a tree and a plaque in Pendle, this will leave the been working with VIC, unveiled a spe- memory of Sophie. VIC Centre at 9.30am or cial memorial to Sophie Lancaster. The team has been working on meet Barley Village Car Sophie, from Haslingden, died after VIC’s First World War project in Park at 10am. being set upon in Stubbylee Park in Cemetery and presented outreach On August 13 a family Bacup in 2007 because she dressed worker Steve Butterworth with a £40 visit to Brockholes Nature differently to her attackers. donation. Reserve, Preston, will leave VIC at 9.30am and then on August 22 VIC will be having a day out at the Pendle Sculpture Trail again leaving VIC at 9.30am or meet at Barley Village car park at 10am. Places are limited and must be pre-booked by contacting 01706 833180. Celebrating

Training ARMED Forces week was SIX members of VIC celebrated by members of Armed Forces Week have completed their VIC at five different events. Royal British Legion The week also raised nearly Rawtenstall’s large Carnival. Crew Van caseworker training. £650 for the charity. supermarkets Tesco and Asda was there along with a stall and Darren Horsnell, Peter Members were present when on the Saturday. we set up a mini assault course Webster,Steve the flag was raised in atrocious At Tesco cadets, firefighters for the young, and not so Butterworth, and Tony weather at Rawtenstall’s war and a number of other young, to try. Stubbs, along with two memorial. We also organised a organisations were also repre- It proved a huge hit and is Darwen members, have ceremony at Greenfield sented and in Asda our singing now being used by VIC at future now all completed their Gardens in Haslingden when group entertained shoppers. events including the Royal training. we raised a flag. To round the week off we Show at Ribchester We were present at attended at Bacup and in August. Phillipa Digging in toughs it EVERYTHING is VIC administrator coming up blooming Phillipa Rowley lovely in the back undertook a tough yard of the VIC mudder 5k challenge Centre. with her relatives at Thanks to free Heaton Park, Manchester, She said: “This time I compost from for Cancer Research UK. raised £40. It was a 5k race Rossendale Council, Phillipa is no stranger to but we had to compete the help of Dig In North West to build challenges and regularly obstacles along the way and ers in abundance. A grant of nearly planters and VIC completes runs to raise there was mud too. We also have a £10,000 for the members green money for the charity in “I loved it, it was wet and memorial garden project was received fingers we will have memory of her grandmother muddy but it was also great planted out with VIC from the East fruit, veg and flow- who lost her battle with cancer. fun.” in flowers. Lancashire CCG. www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] What’s On and Where 10-12 noon Art Group and drop-in ROSSENDALE Central Methodist Church, Burnley Road, FRIDAY Bacup, OL13 9AH. 11am-3pm VIC Centre, Bury Road, Outreach Services Haslingden,BB4 5PL. MONDAY-FRIDAY Singing Group 11am-1pm THURSDAY Walking Group VIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, 6.30-8.30pm Walks will be held on the 2nd and 4th BB4 5PL. VIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, Thursdays. Weather permitting. WEDNESDAY BB4 5PL.

HEYWOOD, MIDDLETON VIC update... TO ENSURE we continue to serve our AND ROCHDALE members and move forward we held a meeting for trustees and members. Outreach Service Lighthouse Project, Warwick Mill, At Haslingden Community Link, those WEDNESDAY - second, third and fourth Middleton M24 1AZ who attended were divided into three weeks only groups to discuss the strengths of our 10.30am-12.30pm Walking Group organisation, the weaknesses, the Fast Forward Cafe, Champness Hall, Walks will be held on the 2nd and 4th opportunities and any potential threats. Drake Street, Rochdale OL16 1PB. Thursdays and are combined with the All of the information from the groups is WEDNESDAY - every week Rossendale walking group. now being collated and it will form the 11.30am-1.30 basis for the future development of VIC. It is vital that VIC meets the needs of our members and in order to do this we TUESDAY need to involve them in our planning so PENDLE 10am-noon thank you to everyone who gave up their Railway Street Community Centre, time. Outreach Service Railway Street, Nelson, BB9 9EH. As summer approaches we are building in several social inclusion activities to give time for veterans and their families to Combat Stress Helpline enjoy days out and quality time. 0800 138 1619 VIC – 01706 833180 We are also grateful to organisations, NHS Military Veterans Psychological like St Mary’s Football Club, who have Operations Manager Bob Elliott Therapies Service (NW) planned events in the summer to raise 0161 253 6638 funds so we can continue our work. [email protected] The Royal British Legion The Positive Art Shop, which VIC opened last month, has seen a steady flow 07961 554 006 0808 802 8080 (7 days a week 8am-8pm) of visitors. Not only can people buy Rossendale Citizens’ Advice Bureau artwork created by veterans they can also Outreach Worker Steve Butterworth 0844 499 4121 (from a landline) learn more about the work of VIC. 0300 456 2552 (from a mobile) [email protected] The Samaritans Want to help? 01706 830999 If you want to donate to support the Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator Darren Horsnell Mental Health Helpline 0500 639000 Mon to Fri 7pm - 11pm Sat work of Veterans In Communities [email protected] & Sun 12 noon to 12 midnight please visit our website and click on Royal Air Forces Association Volunteer Outreach Worker and Music Project 01772 426930 the secure PayPal link Co-ordinator: Peter Webster East Lancashire Single Point of www.veteransin Access via GP or self-referral [email protected] 01282 657116 communities.org

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