2014 News
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Steve Butterworth, one our Outreach Worker visited the Falkland Islands in November. His first time since 1982 when he served on the HMS Intrepid, one of the ships in the Task Force. Steve is in the process of recording his memories and experiences. The article was posted in the Rossendale Free Press. His story can aslo be seen in read in the December edition of our newsletter.
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On Friday the 19th December our fundraising team at TESCO in Haslingden were joined by the Singing Group again, Santa took some time out from his Grotto to lead the carols. We raisied over £600 on the day.
On Thursday the 18th December the Singing Group joined us at ASDA in Rawtenstall for some fundraising. We raised £590 on the day.
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On Wednesday afternoon of the 17th December, 30 VIC members and trustees met for our Xmas dinner at the Cobblers in Rawtenstall. A very enjoyable two hours and a great opportunity for our members and trustees to relax.
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We took advantage of a couple of days break in the weather, and completed the third side of the shed, the walls inside have been insulated and lined and in the New Year we will have the final side cladded and treated.
In conjunction with Alder Grange School, Rawtenstall, the Creative Community Hub and the students from year 7 painted what they thought represented service personnel from WW1. The winners had their paintings put into a calendar that VIC had produced. If you would like to support the CCH art group the calendars are available to buy at £7.50 + £1 P&P.
The 'Dig for VIC' shed build is progressing well. Unfortunatly the weather has closed in and we couldn't lay the roof as planned so we have sheeted the roof so we can start to convert the interior. By the time we break up Xmas the exterior walls and insulation will be completed.
On the 20th November some VIC members took part in a number of activities organised by Alternate Forces. These activities included; Archery, Leap of Faith, Bush Craft and team building exercises.
On Monday 8th December some VIC members completed their last day of the Navigation course run by Alternate Forces. They all completed and will receive a Silver Award in Navigation.
Over the last two days VIC had information stands at the Fairmore Practice in Nelson and at Accrington Victoria Hospital. VIC's veterans awareness stand has information about the local and national services available for members of the Armed Forces Community.
It has been a busy time at the VIC Centre , just before the weather bomb arrived in Haslingden, we managed to get two sides up and the first stage of the roof was fitted. We hope to finish off the roof this week and start to clad the other sides before Xmas. More pictures can be viewed on the Dig for VIC page
Over the last few weeks VIC have been holding Veterans awareness stands at medical centres across East Lancashire. Thank you to all the staff and practice managers who helped and supported this idea to raise awareness of the issues veterans and their families encounter.
The VIC Singing Group were performing again on Thursday 4th December, this time they were performing at an Anchor Trust Care Home in Haslingden.
The Shed for the Dig for VIC project is progressing well and we are ready to start to join all the side together.
The Pendle arts and crafts exhibition has come to an end and it went very well with and over £104 was raised by the Creative Community Hub. Most of these sales were from the crafts that the Yarny Army made during their Wednesday afternoon sessions at the VIC Centre.
On Monady the 1st of December VIC members started a two day Navigation course run by Alternate Forces and it was a great success, after a brief classroom and refresher training VIC members put into practice some of the techniques learnt.
VIC Xmas cards designed by the Creative Community Hub members; Darren Horsnell, Peter Webster, Liz Taylor and Nora Yeomans from Jubilee Court art group. The cartoon character cards were designed by VIC member Tracey Gilbertson. They are £4 per pack of 5 mixed and £3.50 for the cartoon character cards. Thanks for your support, and details to pay can be found on the VIC Shop.
The shed/ workshop for the Dig for VIC has been progressing well, we are now ready to start cladding the sides and laying the roof. The weather has held off and we have a couple of good days for the VIC members to crack on.
On Friday 14th November VIC were invited to celebrate St Mary's School in Rawtenstall being presented their Artsmark certicfiate from Jake Berry MP. Artsmark is Arts Council England's flagship programme to enable schools and other organisations to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their arts and cultural.
Earlier this year we prepared and planted poppy seeds in an area to commemorate WW1 in the school grounds. The Creative Community Hub has already had discussions as to how we can work with the school to include the childrens art into the WW1 project.
Earlier this year we prepared and planted poppy seeds in an area to commemorate WW1 in the school grounds. The Creative Community Hub has already had discussions as to how we can work with the school to include the childrens art into the WW1 project.
On Wednesday 12th November VIC were guests at the Rossendale Business Awards at the Riverside in Whitworth. VIC were finalists in the Community Business Award, Unfortunatly we did not win this year but the judges felt we should be 'Highly Commended'.
VIC members attended a number of Remembrance Services this year; we had members at Whitworth, Bacup, Haslingden, Helmshore, Rawtenstall, Blackpool, Rochdale, Simonstone, Manchester and even the Falkland Islands
In Haslingden on Sunday the 9th November we had the responsibility for the Union Flag and the parade marched through the town and finished at the VIC Centre, where we invited the community and veterans in for some refreshments.
One of members who was a former musician was asked to play the Last Post at Simonstone. One of their special guests came in from Canada especially and as he was a Cavalryman, the last post was the cavalry version.
In Haslingden on Sunday the 9th November we had the responsibility for the Union Flag and the parade marched through the town and finished at the VIC Centre, where we invited the community and veterans in for some refreshments.
One of members who was a former musician was asked to play the Last Post at Simonstone. One of their special guests came in from Canada especially and as he was a Cavalryman, the last post was the cavalry version.
The VIC Singing Group were invited to perform at this years Festival of Remembrance at the Riverside in Whitworth. The proceeds from the evening were split between VIC and the Royal British Legion. This was only their third public performance.
VIC were asked by Heywood & District Angling Society to help them demolish a wall and to generally clean up a car parking area. VIC members from the Heywood Outreach and from the VIC Centre spent a couple of hours today on this community project. Some ofthe members spent a couple of hours fishing after as a reward for the hard work to get the site cleaned.
International tenor Sean Ruane gave our the singing group a boost before its first major performance at the Festival of Remembrance concert in Whitworth. Sean, who hails from Bacup, told the singers he had been following their progress on social net-working sites Twitter and Facebook.
They sang The Homeground Anthem, which was recorded as a charity single by Russell Watson but has been released for the group to sing by the song’s writer Owen Shead, and You Raise Me Up. Sean then selected sections of the performance and gave the group pointers on how to improve ahead of the concert
They sang The Homeground Anthem, which was recorded as a charity single by Russell Watson but has been released for the group to sing by the song’s writer Owen Shead, and You Raise Me Up. Sean then selected sections of the performance and gave the group pointers on how to improve ahead of the concert
VIC members organised a Halloween fundraiser at the IDL Club in Haslingden, over £100 was raised on the evening. The fun night was organised by Darren Horsnell and his fiancée Tracey Vick.
The VIC 'Yarnn Army' that meets every Wednesday afternoon at the VIC Centre have been asked to produce a poppy for Remembrance. Ann Tunnicliffe runs this group and our younger VIC members have made a number of knitted items for VIC. Any money raised when these items are sold are donated to VIC. The Yarny Army is part of the Creative Community Hub that is run by Darren Horsnell.
The 'Dig for VIC' project that has been funded by East Lancashire CCG Social Prescribing has begun, over the last few weeks VIC members have laid the foundations, the base laid and now the frames are being built. The ongoing work can be seen on the Dig for VIC page.
On the 31st October have organised a Halloween fundraising evening at the IDL Club in Haslingden.
We have just been notified that Veterans In Communities is a finalist in the Community Business category at this year's Awards.
The winners will be announced at the ceremony on November 12th at the Riverside Whitworth
The winners will be announced at the ceremony on November 12th at the Riverside Whitworth
Saturday 11th October Steve Walmsley RE and Mike Caulfield of the Ellesmere Port Cricket Club presented VIC with a donation of £120. A signed Freddie Flintoff shirt donated was auctioned off for charity at the annual presentation evening.
After a lot of activity at the Whitworth Memorial Gardens, the final stones were laid on the dry stone wall. A stone plaque was inserted in to the wall to show the hard work carried out, VIC would particuarly like to thank Lancashire Community Pay Team Leader Paul Blezard and his teams. We still have to clean the site before it gets handed back to Whitworth Council but it has been completed in time for the planned remembrance events in November.
On 10th October Alan Taylor and the Darwen outreach team attended an event at UCLAN in Burnley to highlight the difficulties of PTSD within the veterans community. We have been invited back to next years event
Tony Stubbs and VIC were invited to a showcase event at Rochdale Town Hall on 10th October for the organisations working across Rochdale to showcase their services. Tony was interviewed and gave a short TV presentation about the work VIC is doing across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale veterans.
Last month VIC were asked whether our members would take part in a Focus Group on the Access to Primary Care Services from the perspective of a veteran.
Our VIC chair Ronnie Barker presented your views and opinions on the 'Access to Primary Care Services to the Clinical Commissioning Group at Walshaw House on the 9th October.
Our VIC chair Ronnie Barker presented your views and opinions on the 'Access to Primary Care Services to the Clinical Commissioning Group at Walshaw House on the 9th October.
Here is the page lead in this week's Free Press for Veterans In Communities member Dave Almond and his walking sticks. Some of these sticks are available to view and buy at the VIC Centre, for further information please call Darren or Steve on 01706 833180
As far as Dave is aware he is the only person in the UK and possibly the world that is making these walking sticks.
As far as Dave is aware he is the only person in the UK and possibly the world that is making these walking sticks.
On Sunday 2nd November, the VIC Singing Group is performing at the Whitworth Festival of Remembrance. Tickets are now available, any proceeds are to be shared with the Royal British Legion. This is the second public performance for the Singing Group, they have a further two performances this year; Thursday 18th December at ASDA in Rawtenstall and on Friday 19th December at Tesco in Haslingden.
The VIC Family Support Group have been looking for new venues for their regular meetings throughout our outreach areas. There will be more family days and activities planned and a we have set up a separate closed Facebook group for those who use social media.
Saturday 20th September VIC organised a day trip for our members under the Social Inclusion project, 12 members from Haslingden, Oldham, Ramsbottom, Bury, Bolton, and Accrington joined us at the Southport Airshow. Everybody had a great day, the Red Arrows, the Tornado, and the two last remaining Lancasters were particular favourites.
Sunday the 14th September VIC were at the Haslingden Street Fair, we helped out with some marshalling, manning the bouncy castle, having the information stand with face painting for young children and the Centre was opened for a small art exhibition. We raised £300 on the day.
On Sunday the 7th September, The Rotary Club in Rossendale organised the annual 18 mile Round the Hills Walks walking around Rossendale. VIC members helped them again by marshalling some of checkpoints. We had some of our members completed the 18 miles in the time allowed and one member completed it in 5 hours, a very reasonable time as they changed the route this year and the hardest hill was at the end.
VIC have been nominated again for a Rossendale Business Award. We were nominated last year in the category of the 'Not for profit' business and won this category. We have achieved so much since our nomination last year so we hope to be short listed this year.
We held a raffle at the recent Art Exhibition in Bury and the winner Mrs Parkes was presented with her Wigan Warriors RLFC signed shirt. Mrs Parkes said 'I am going to re-raffle the top to raise money for Rossendale Macmillan Cancer research.
Wednesday the 3rd September VIC delivered a Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement to 7 veterans living in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. In May VIC members Steve and Darren delivered this to veterans serving in HMP Buckley Hall, where they all successfully passed and given their certificates. We plan to run another course shortly.
All those who sat the exam passed and will be presented their certificates in the near future.
All those who sat the exam passed and will be presented their certificates in the near future.
Tuesday the 2nd September Lancashire Care Health and Wellbeing nurses held health checks for our members living in Lancashire.
On the 1st of September VIC appointed a Business Development manager, we had some outstanding candidates apply for the position and it was a difficult decision for us to make.
Roger Chaney was the successful candidate, he has previously worked for the Princes Trust and has experience and skills that VIC need to continue with our growth as a charity.
Welcome to VIC Roger and we look forward to working with you.
Roger Chaney was the successful candidate, he has previously worked for the Princes Trust and has experience and skills that VIC need to continue with our growth as a charity.
Welcome to VIC Roger and we look forward to working with you.
On the 29th August, VIC members Suzanne, Darren, Steve were presented with their Level 3 Information, Advice and Guidance NVQ from Trish Fish from ACCROSS (Accrington and Rossendale College). Trish was the assessor for this qualification and with her support they completed in just over a four months. A great effort by all those who worked hard on this course.
VIC now have five members with their Level 3 and one with a Level 4 qualifications in Advice and Guidance.
VIC now have five members with their Level 3 and one with a Level 4 qualifications in Advice and Guidance.
On Wednesday 27th August residents from Jubilee Court in Helmshore enjoyed their first porcelain ceramic painting art sessions. This is one of the community projects from the MOD funded Community Creative Hub activities run by Darren Horsnell.
On Sunday 24th August, VIC members organised a fishing day trip to the Dingle fishing lakes in Sunnyhurst Wood in Darwen. The Darwen outreach team are helping the club to do some general grounds maintenance. Unfortunately there were no fish caught on the day.
On Saturday 16th August the Creative Community Hub organised a day trip to Bolton Abbey. It gave them an opportunity to explore the Abbey and surrounding areas to get some inspiration for the art group. The minibus was kindly loaned to us by the Rossendale Hospice, VIC members attended from Stockport, Bolton, Bury, Ramsbottom, an Rossendale
On the 15th August Darwen Outreach Team were invited as guests to the Final Team Presentation from Princes Trust Blackburn Team. As part of the 12 week team programme the Blackburn group organised a bag packing fundraising event at a local supermarket in Blackburn. They discussed the charity they wanted to support and chose VIC. The collection was used to fund the day trip and lunch for veterans from VIC.
On Tuesday 12th August VIC were invited to the Final Team Presentation from Princes Trust ACCROSS Team 3 in Rawtenstall. As part of the 12 week team programme they chose VIC as their community project where they assisted us with the WW1 project at Bacup Cemetery. It was inspiring to hear about the individual stories and what they all achieved during their experiences throughout the programme.
On the 1st of October VIC has a professional water colourist visiting the VIC Centre, giving us a workshop in loose style. The cost of which will be £5 per person with all art materials and refreshments supplied. If you are interested in joining this workshop then contact Darren on either 01706 833180 or mailto:darrenhorsnell@veteransincommunities.org
Up for auction is a portrait of the world champion snooker star Paul Hunter. This was painted in Oils by an amateur artist in memory of the snooker star who died at such an early age.
On Fri 14th January 2014 The Accrington and District gold club organised a golf match to raise money for The Paul Hunter Foundation and invited 17 world class snooker players (including 4 world champions). VIC were approached to help with marshalling this event. In recognition of the work VIC members contributed on the day they were presented with a signed portrait of Paul Hunter. One of our VIC members then went round asking 19 snooker stars to kindly sign the frame of the portrait. Some of these signatures include;
Steve Davis, John Parrot, Shaun Murphy, Willie Thorne, John Higgins and many more.
To verify the golf match please feel free to check out
http://www.paulhuntercharitygolfday.co.uk/
The painting and frame are in mint condition with all the signatures clear and unmarked. The painting is A1 size, approximately 23 x 33 inches
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAUL-HUNTER-PORTRAIT-SIGNED-BY-STEVE-DAVIS-SHAUN-MURPHY-JOHN-PARROT-MORE-/301276191216?
On Fri 14th January 2014 The Accrington and District gold club organised a golf match to raise money for The Paul Hunter Foundation and invited 17 world class snooker players (including 4 world champions). VIC were approached to help with marshalling this event. In recognition of the work VIC members contributed on the day they were presented with a signed portrait of Paul Hunter. One of our VIC members then went round asking 19 snooker stars to kindly sign the frame of the portrait. Some of these signatures include;
Steve Davis, John Parrot, Shaun Murphy, Willie Thorne, John Higgins and many more.
To verify the golf match please feel free to check out
http://www.paulhuntercharitygolfday.co.uk/
The painting and frame are in mint condition with all the signatures clear and unmarked. The painting is A1 size, approximately 23 x 33 inches
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAUL-HUNTER-PORTRAIT-SIGNED-BY-STEVE-DAVIS-SHAUN-MURPHY-JOHN-PARROT-MORE-/301276191216?
On Monday 4th August the Darwen Outreach Team joined veterans and members of community in Darwen to commemorate the start of WW1 to a' lights out' ceremony.
It was inspired by the words of wartime foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, who said on the eve of war: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time."
It was inspired by the words of wartime foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, who said on the eve of war: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time."
On Thursday 7th August, the VIC Darwen outreach team were invited to join members of the Princes Trust team from Blackburn to a trip to the Imperial War Museum North. The Blackburn group as part of the course did a bag packing fundraising event at a local supermarket in Blackburn. They discussed the charity they wanted to support and chose VIC. The collection was used to fund the day trip and lunch for veterans from VIC.
The VIC Singing Group had their first public performance on Saturday 2nd August at ASDA Rawtenstall. The response was fantastic from both the shoppers and staff, they have been invited back on the 18th December for a further performance.
On Saturday the 2nd August VIC were fundraising at ASDA in Rawtenstall, we were joined by our Darwen outreach and the VIC Singing Group. We raised over £300 and would to thank ASDA and the members of the public for their generous support.
The VIC art exhibition in Bury closed its door on the 3rd August after ten days at the Millgate Shopping Centre in Bury. We hope to be back next year and we thank the Millgate Shopping Centre for giving us an empty unit to exhibit our art work from Creative Community Hub.
We have exceeded last years sales by 50% and visitors to the shop has exceeded last years total of 3000.
It was a busy a ten days, and we thank the many members who helped out. But without the support of the people of Bury, it wouldn't have been as successful so a big thank you to the visitors we had in the shop over the ten days.
We have exceeded last years sales by 50% and visitors to the shop has exceeded last years total of 3000.
It was a busy a ten days, and we thank the many members who helped out. But without the support of the people of Bury, it wouldn't have been as successful so a big thank you to the visitors we had in the shop over the ten days.
VIC have CVS coming into the VIC Centre on Mondays 10.30 - 12.30. This is a drop and if anybody who is interested in volunteering opportunities with a CVS advisor can call in. This is a new community venue for BPRCVS in Haslingden.
The VIC Community Creative Hub has started to take the art and crafts out into the community. Darren Horsnell is teaching arts and crafts to a group of elderly residents living at Jubilee Court in Haslingden. VIC were successful with a grant from the Armed Forces Community Grant scheme which has given VIC the opportunity to take the successful art group out into the community so that so many others can benefit from the therapeutic qualities art can bring to a person.
The group meet every Wednesday, for more information please email darrenhorsnell@veteransincommunities.org
The group meet every Wednesday, for more information please email darrenhorsnell@veteransincommunities.org
The VIC Art Group that normally meets every Friday at the VIC Centre will on the 1st August be relocating to the Millgate Shopping Centre, Bury for One week. This will give us a chance for the public to see the art group in action.
Last year VIC held a successful Veterans Art Exhibition at the Millgate Shopping Centre in Bury, we had over 3000 come and view the art work produced by VIC members.
We approached the Millgate again and have been given another empty shop for another ten days to exhibit the VIC members arts work. The art exhibition starts tomorrow and ends on the 3rd August.
We have a number of our partners providing information and support; NHS Military Veterans Service, Royal British, Remploy and Lancashire Fusiliers Association.
This year we have further attractions; raffle prizes, demonstrations on mounting and framing pictures, and for the first time a painted picture of the late snooker player Paul Hunter which is signed by a number of professional snooker players which will be auctioned off on sealed bids.
On this occaision we will hold the auction open until the end of August to allow others to make a sealed bid on this unique picture.
We approached the Millgate again and have been given another empty shop for another ten days to exhibit the VIC members arts work. The art exhibition starts tomorrow and ends on the 3rd August.
We have a number of our partners providing information and support; NHS Military Veterans Service, Royal British, Remploy and Lancashire Fusiliers Association.
This year we have further attractions; raffle prizes, demonstrations on mounting and framing pictures, and for the first time a painted picture of the late snooker player Paul Hunter which is signed by a number of professional snooker players which will be auctioned off on sealed bids.
On this occaision we will hold the auction open until the end of August to allow others to make a sealed bid on this unique picture.
The VIC Centre hosted a two day ASIST (suicide intervention course) on Monday 21st & 22nd July . A VIC member delivered the training with another trainer to 26 participants that included; Calico Housing, Inspire, Lancashire Care, Lancashire Police and organisations working with vulnerable groups. Three were veterans.
Last month VIC hosted a half day SafeTalk suicide course. There will be other SafeTalk courses advertised in the next month. For more information email info@veteransincommunities.org
Last month VIC hosted a half day SafeTalk suicide course. There will be other SafeTalk courses advertised in the next month. For more information email info@veteransincommunities.org
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On 10th July we received confirmation from the charity Homeground People that the VIC Singing could perform the Homeground Anthem at the Whitworth Festival of Remembrance in November.
The words to the Homeground Anthem can be seen on http://www.homegroundprojects.org.uk/homeground-anthem-2/ |
On Saturday 5th July, VIC were invited as guests to Preston Military Show. All the VIC members enjoyed the show and displays throughout the day. There were a number of static displays of current military vehicles, all the larger ex-service charities were present, there was an assault course for kids, a bridge build and section attack demo by the Royal Engineers and Duke of Lancaster's, tug of war, a display by the Royal Signals White Helmets and much more.
On Friday 4th July, we were joined at the VIC Centre by Sally Naden of BBC Radio Lancashire. She broadcasted live from the Centre. Sally met and interviewed a number of our members, everybody enjoyed the few hours she was with us. Sally was presented one of our VIC polo shirts as a sign of appreciation.
The broadcast can still be heard for a few more days on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p021d3sx
The broadcast can still be heard for a few more days on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p021d3sx
On Thursday 3rd July VIC was asked by St Mary's RC Primary School in Haslingden to help when their old wooden shed was blown down by the high winds we had a couple of months ago. This type of project was particularly interesting to to VIC as it gave us the opportunity to work out in the community. This new shed is stronger and the material doesn't get affected by the weather, we have secured the shed to the base so this shouldn't happen again. A job well done, and saved the school some money. Good effort by the VIC members who helped out.
On Tuesday 1st July, VIC were invited to the service of celebration and remembrance to mark the exercising of the Freedom of the Borough of Hyndburn by the 1st Btn of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. It was part of a larger event organised in Accrington for the Accrington Pals.
Two members of VIC have family serving in the 1st Btn
Two members of VIC have family serving in the 1st Btn
On Saturday 28th June, VIC members were fundraising at ASDA in Bury.
On Saturday 28th June, VIC members attended the Heywood Armed Forces Day. Although the weather held off long enough for the parade.
On Saturday 28th June, VIC members were fundraising at TESCO in Rawtenstall.
On Friday 27th June, Princes Trust ACROSS Team 3 had their handover presentation at Bacup Cemetery. The Mayor of Rossendale Thomas Aldred, members of VIC, Rotary Club, community Councillors, friends and family of those who participated also attended this presentation.
VIC only expected ten headstones to be done by the team over the nine days they spent up at the cemetery, however they exceeded our expectations and they have 20 headstones laid. One of our members Peter Webster was supervising them commented on how well they did during the nine days.
VIC will now continue laying the remaining 100 headstones over the next three months.
VIC only expected ten headstones to be done by the team over the nine days they spent up at the cemetery, however they exceeded our expectations and they have 20 headstones laid. One of our members Peter Webster was supervising them commented on how well they did during the nine days.
VIC will now continue laying the remaining 100 headstones over the next three months.
On Wednesday 25th June, the VIC Centre was officially opened by Brigadier C Coles of 42 Brigade (NW). It was a great success. We had 98 invited guests sharing the day with 46 of our VIC members who had offered to help out on the day. It was a long day and feedback we have had was very positive and everybody commented on how much they enjoyed the day.