2017 News
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On Saturday 23rd December the VIC Singing Group performed at the Tesco in Haslingden. It was the last performance of 2017 and £596 was raised. We would like to thank the customers for the generosity, the staff, our Singing Group members and collectors who made this staggering amount so close to Xmas possible.
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After a fantastic response for our request for food to be donated for Xmas hampers for veterans who are on their own this year over Xmas. We managed make up in excess of 30 hampers and we delivered them all before Xmas Eve. Tesco in Haslingden also kindly donated some toys which we gave out to those with young children. We estimated that over 300 meals went out this year. The remaining food was made up into food parcels for any veteran in need over the Xmas period that came into the centre during our Xmas opening.
VIC would like to thank all those who have donated food, cash donations, and offers of help and messages of support. We wish all those who have made this possible a very Happy Xmas and New Year. It’s not possible to name all those individuals, groups and organisations who donated food, but they included; Imogen aged 10 from Westhome School in Blackburn called in and donated some food as part of her act of kindness for the day, Tesco, Nisa, CO-OP, Angie's Angels, RAFT, Home Instead and the CMHT Rossendale. We couldn’t believe how generous people have been, and especially those who received a hamper this year were very thankful. |
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Final Veterans Coffee Morning for 2017 at the Sandbag Cafe in Heywood. Plenty of mince pies, chocolate and good cheer to go around... as well as some lovely cake to celebrate Cliffords birthday, 83 years young. As always, lots of laughter and some good old forces banter whilst sharing their plans for a good Christmas and New Year.
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VIC Singing Group and our group veterans raised £740.03 on Saturday 16th December at Tesco's in Bury. A huge thanks to the singing group and those who helped out collecting, this is the largest collection we have had at any of the Singing Group Performances so very good effort
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On Wednesday 14th December VIC held their annual Xmas meal for our members where we had around 50 seated. The raffle hampers were won by Simon Peace, Jimmy Elsworth and David Hoyle. The meal was served by the Reservists from HMP Eaglet, RAF and Army.
This Xmas meal was only able to go ahead due to the generosity of those who donated money towards the veteran’s meal. The money that our members had already paid was stolen during the break-in at the VIC Centre. |
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Another outstanding performance by the VIC Singing Group on Saturday 9th December at the ASDA Store in Rawtenstall. We raised £472.31, and we would like to thank the customers, staff, our Singing Group and our collectors for their generous donations and their time to help out.
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One of our members Alan Willetts who had undiagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for more than three decades has just landed a place in the prestigious Invictus Choir. Well done Alan
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On the 5th December VIC staff had a stand at the Veterans Day in Clitheroe.
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On Saturday 25th November the Singing Group raised £439. 74, many thanks to the Singing Group for their performance and the customers of Tesco who donated this outstanding amount.
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Burglars broke into the VIC centre in Haslingden during the early hours of Friday 17th November. The alarm triggered at the VIC Centre at 05.40 and a member of staff was on site six minutes later, but the burglars had already fled.
CCTV recorded them climbing over the wall from the car park into the back yard and spending around 45 minutes trying unsuccessfully to break into a workshop and the building. When they failed to gain entry they then picked up a memorial stone inscribed with ‘Lest We Forget’ and smashed a frosted glass panel. Once inside, the pair kicked their way into the office and stole around £1000 from locked cash boxes in locked filing cabinets. Charity tins containing money raised from selling craft items made by veterans along with donation boxes were also taken; fortunately the Poppy Appeal money had already been handed over to The Royal British Legion. Chief Executive Liz Hamilton said: “They stole all the cash they could find. A lot had been paid as deposits by veterans for our Christmas meal next month and this is money that many members will not be able to afford to pay again. “There was utter disbelief in the centre and everyone is shocked and disgusted at what has happened. “The CCTV shows a man accompanied by what is believed to be a woman and both are of average height and of slight build. The CCTV pictures have been taken by the police. Many of our member’s feel that VIC is their home and we would like to thank those who offered their help and support, and to our members who have helped to secure the centre. We believe one of the individuals attempted to break in on the 30th October and was clearly seen trying to use same methods of entry. Fortunately we had already increased security at those points. We were overwhelmed with offers of support and messages, and donations to cover the money that was stolen. VIC would like to thank everybody who has donated money to cover the cost of the Xmas meals for the veterans, and because of those generous donations we were able to cover the cost of all the veterans’ meals. Words can't explain how much we appreciate this at VIC and our members are feeling very humbled by the support and donations made |
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VIC members were present at a number of REmembrance services this year;
On Friday 10th November some of our members were invited to two Rossendale Schools; Alder Grange School and Fearns School for their school services. Our Singing Group joined the service at Stacksteads and we laid a wreath at Bacup Cemetery. On Friday evening we had 12 members attend the Festival of Remembrance at Manchester Airport. On Saturday 11th November our members attended many local short services at 1100 including Rochdale, Oldham, Haslingden, Bury, and the Rossendale Armed Forces Breakfast Club. On Remembrance Sunday our members were present at Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Bury, Oldham, Rawstenstall, Manchester, Rochdale, London and Bolton. VIC was the charity chosen for the M60 Ride of Respect ride. Over 1400 bikes setting off from the M62 West bound Birch services to travel around the M60 in one continuous ring of red. A good day to remember. This year has been busier than last year and we have noticed the increased number of the public who are attending the services. |
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Yesterday a team from members of the National Citizenship Service based in Bury that helped VIC at Bacup Cemetery to clean up the WW1 headstones, joined Steve Butterworth and Andy Greaves at the Helmshore allotment. They gave the allotment a good tidy up. These 16 to 18 year olds have been a pleasure to work with and should be commended for their hard work and effort they have put into the two projects.
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At the VIC Sandbag Café in Heywood on the 14th November, two Standards were officially handed over to the Vicar of St Luke’s CE Church on York Street. The two standards; one for the British Legion which pre-dates 1971 and the other a Royal Navy standard were discovered after a church closed will now be on permanent display. The historic flags were found in Grade II Listed St James CE Church on Tower Street, Heywood. The congregation has relocated to hold services in the church hall.
Members of Heywood Veterans’ Association, HVA, were in attendance along with the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Ian Duckworth, a former Royal Corps of Signals soldier. Rochdale Council Armed Forces Officer Caen Matthews contacted Project Worker Liz Davies, who runs the Sandbag Café, to see whether they could be officially handed over there as the café is now the meeting place for the veterans in Heywood. |
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On the 14th December VIC members cleared a back yard of unwanted garden pots and plants from a house in Haslingden. The elderly ex Submariner was unable to clear it so a works party; Jimmy Elsworth, Jimmy Kudritzski, Andy Greaves, Carole Mills, , David Mills and Iain Barrow cleared it all in under 45 minutes. Good effort and another example of the work VIC do in the Community.
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On the 6th and 7th November school leavers on the National Citizenship Service Programme based at the Masonic Hall in Bury helped VIC members to clean up the WW1 headstones at Bacup Cemetery . Their final task was to lay the 135 crosses and picket fence at the Memorial ready for Remembrance.
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On Saturday 4th November the Crafty Chatters had a stall at Trinity Baptist Church Craft Fair at Bacup
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Our Crafty Chatters made an assortment of gifts and crafts for Xmas this year. They went on sale at the VIC Centre in Haslingden.
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VIC members and our oldest members WW2 veteran Lewis Banham celebrated his 95th birthday at the VIC Centre in Haslingden.
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VIC held their 18th painting in the style of Bob Ross on Saturday 28th October at the VIC Centre in Haslingden.
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On Thursday 26th October VIC members joined a large number of other veterans from across all three of the Armed Services at Accrington crematorium to remember the passing of a Second World War veteran Ernest Capstaff - who served in the Royal Navy fighting the Japanese imperial fleet - who died earlier in the month aged 101.
But with only a few surviving family members, an appeal went out on social media to give him the send-off he deserved. |
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On Saturday 14th October the Rossendale Armed Forces Breakfast Club was launched at the Bumble's Cafe at the Haslingden Children's Link Centre on Bury Road. The cost of the breakfast was £3.50 with unlimited brews.
Lewis Banham was presented with his Legion d'Honneur medal by the Mayor of Rossendale Councillor Colin Crawford. The Rossendale Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club is every second Saturday of the month. All veterans and their families are welcome to come along to this breakfast. |
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On the 13th October at the VIC Centre in Haslingden we celebrated another VIC members birthday, Doug Hocken was 90 years old and served in the RAF Bomber Command at the end of WW2.
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On the 12th October VIC members enjoyed a walk to Peel Tower, Bull Hill where they touched a trig. They then continued onto Pilgrims Cross before walking back to Holcombe Village.
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At the beginning of October the ladies from our Crafty Chatters group donated some baby clothes that they had made during the craft group that meets every Monday at the VIC Centre. They were donated to Ruth Thorpe of Cloth and Craft at Waterfoot. The knitwear will be passed on to where they are needed.
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On Friday the 6th October, VIC members attended Fred Wellmans Funeral. Fred was 86 when he died at home surrounded by his family. He joined VIC's social trips and a regular member of the Art Group until he became to ill. VIC members formed a guard of honour, standards were present and last post played. RIP Fred
He served in the Dorset Regiment as a regular, he wrote a small book on his experiences and is featured in a British Pathe film in 1953. Fred joined as a boy after spending some of his childhood in a Barnardo’s home aged fifteen on the 17th January 1947 at Dorchester barracks. He joined the Dorchester regiment first before the Dorset’s. He served in Austria, Hong Kong, Germany and Cyprus during the troubles there. He was actually a bandsman; however he was a bit of a lad and subsequently was transferred back into an infantry unit. Fred gained the rank of Lance Corporal. |
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VIC held their 17th painting in the style of Bob Ross on Saturday 30th September.
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On Wednesday 20th September held their second public Annual General Meeting. CEO Liz Hamilton gave a short brief of our growth and activities during the last 12 months. Chair Ronnie Barker went through our accounts for 2016 - 2017, As with with all our other years accounts you will be able to download these from our home page.
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On Tuesday 19th September VIC launched 'The Sandbag Cafe' in Heywood at Sandon House. It was a great success and this veteran's drop-in will run every week for veterans to meet and socialise over a brew and biscuit.
For more information please contact lizdavies@vic.org.uk or call the office on 01706 833180 |
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On Saturday 16th September VIC were asked to have a stand at the Preston Military Show at Fulwood Barracks. We have had four Armed Forces Community Covenant funded projects so it was a great opportunity to show case these projects. It was also the last public appearance of the Royal Signals White Helmet Display Team, Lewis Banham was invited as a VIP alongside two other WW11 veteran dispatch riders. It was the last Military Show at Fulwood barracks as it is to be closed down by 2020.
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We celebrated another birthday for one of our older members John Edwards who was 76 on the 15th September. John has been a member of VIC since 2014, he is an ex-firefighter and is involved in the Singing Group and most of our other activities. John was widowed earlier in the year when he lost his long-term wife Megan Edwards. Happy Birthday John.
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VIC members completed a community notice board in Weir, it was the one of the first projects for our 'Veterans In Production' and another small project where we use the skills gained from the military to help the local community.
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On Saturday 9th September Julie Davis completed her sponsored Free Fall parachute jump with the Black Knights. She is donating her sponsorship money to VIC. Well done Julie and thank you.
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On the evening of the 7th September at the The Royal British Legion Greater Manchester & Lancashire Area Awards Evening at the Village Hotel in Bury, VIC was nominated in the Third Sector Award category. We were up against other very worthy third sector organisations including Dig In West whom we have worked with since 2012 and Sale Sharks.
VIC won this category. A big thank you to our members and partners that made this possible. See more VIC awards The citation for VIC was: Veterans In Communities is one of the many brilliant grass roots organisations that we work with. What sets it apart is its commitment to community and the reintegration of veterans into civilian society. VIC offers a wide range of programmes that bring people together, develop skills and provide support. And their staff and volunteers are enthusiastic, committed and have a real belief in their work. When you visit VIC you can feel the family environment and the sense of positivity from everyone there and that can only be a good thing for veterans who feel that they need help taking the next step. |
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On Sunday the 3rd September VIC had our arts and crafts on display at the annual Haslingden Street Fair. Unfortunately the weather was poor so our Singing Group couldn't perform.
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On the 31st August our oldest WW11 veteran 94 year old Lewis Banham was presented with the Dutch Liberation Medal by Brigadier David Hargreaves, the Chairman of the Royal Signals Association on behalf of the Netherlands Government. We also reunited him with the type of bike he rode throughout WWII as a dispatch rider for the Royal Signals. [Read More] |
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On Thursday 31st August due to the weather, VIC members had a change to the planned walk and went up to the Pendle Sculpture Trail. There are some great views and statues along the trail.
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On Friday 25th August VIC members joined the team from Activate to walk up to Daltons Cave, deep in the Borrowdale valley of the English Lake District lies a hidden cave. This cave was home to the lakelands very first adventurer, a man who went by the name of Millican Dalton.
The cave today is referred to as Dalton's Cave, and lies beneath the crags and vegetation of Castle Crag. Many have searched for the location of the cave and have had limited success. The Activate Team took a small group of adventurous individuals up into the majestic Borrowdale Valley to spend a night inside Dalton's Cave. A natural shelter and a great piece of natural accommodation for those seeking a unique adventure. |
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Another of our Social Inclusion trips took place on Saturday 19th August, VIC members including our two oldest WW11 veterans Lewis Banhan and Doug Hocken went to Eden Camp in Yorkshire. They all had a great day out especially Lewis and Doug as there were so many exhibitions around WW11.
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On the 17th August VIC members enjoyed a 4.5 mile walk from Witton Park, Blackburn taking in Billinge Hill. We looked at the memorial to Alfred Wainwright. It is a bronze plaque with a hollow centre where a stone relief carving of Wainwright is set. He was born in Blackburn and spent the first 34 years of his life there. It is situated adjacent to a public footpath on the Witton Weavers Way.The weather was kind and the views amazing.
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On Sunday 13th August we attended the Trawden Show, this was our second year and we adapted out stand this year. We had the the 'Living Museum' that is run by two VIC members, we had an arts and crafts stand and as we were limited to space we only had our Nerf Gun shooting range instead of the assault course.
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On Friday 11th August a small works party from VIC demolished a shed of a recently widowed wife of an RAF veteran. Thanks to Jimmy Elsworth Andy Greaves and Joe Davis for helping out. Another good example of VIC supporting the veteran community.
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On Sunday 6th August, VIC set up our assault course and information stand at the RBL Haslingden Fun Day at St Mary's Football Club . It was a very successful first event for the Haslingden Branch of the Royal British Legion, and it can only grow in strength
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On Thursday 3rd August VIC walked around the back of Clough Head visitors centre.
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On Tuesday 1st August VIC members were given given the opportunity to take part in an activity at Rossendale Ski Centre that sitting in a large inflated inner tube and coming down the ski slope.
We had recently been donated some office chairs for our IT suite at the VIC Centre, and we donated the old ones to the Ski Centre as it is being renovated. They offered us an hour in exchange. Everybody enjoyed it. |
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At the end of July VIC's art group put on an exhibition of their paintings at the Hargreaves Arms in Lumb. There has been some of the art work displayed there for a few months but this display is much larger.
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On Saturday 29th July VIC put out our assault course and information stand at the Cowling Show. The organisers were present at last years Trawden Show and asked if we would like to be there.
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VIC and Darren Horsnell held it's 17th Bob Ross Art course on the 29th July. It was another great success and the pictures improve every time their is a course.
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On Friday 28th July two of our older WW2 veterans Duggie and Lewis both in their nineties were invited by the Royal British Legion to their WW 2 Veterans afternoon tea and dance event, held at the Village Hotel at Bury. They had a great time speaking to the fellow comrades and sharing the delightful sandwiches and cakes. They would like to say thanks to all those involved.
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On Saturday the 22nd July, VIC members traveled to the Trafford Breakfast Club again.
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On Thursday 21st July VIC members walked up Darwen Tower, although overcast the view were still very impressive.
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On Sunday 16th July VIC members stripped out an unwanted greenhouse. This greenhouse will be reassembled in our Helmshore Allotment so we can cultivate our own seeds and plants for next year.
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On Friday 14th July the VIC Singing Group performed at the Tesco's in Bury, We would like to thanks the staff and customers for the generous donation. The Singing Group was led by Ronnie Barker. We raised £211 on the day.
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We had a small works party at the Helmshore Allotment on the 12th July as we have been given a large number of pallets and over the next few months we will turn them into allotment furniture.
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St James' CE School in Haslingden needed their garden area tidying up before their Summer Fete on the 13th July, We put together a small works party to give it a good tidy up the day before.
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On Thursday 6th July we had a full bus for the trip to Crosby to see the Anthony Gormley statues. Great weather to spend a couple of hours at the sea side. We got there when the tide was in and after a couple of hours you could see the statues popping up.
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On Sunday 25th June we had a stand at the Bacup Carnival, we were joined by two of our members who had on display their Living Museum. Unfortunately the weather was not good and the ground was very wet so we were unable to put out our assault course this year but we put up a Nerf Gun range instead.
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On Saturday the 24th June Armed Forces Day our Singing Group performed at ASDA in Rawtenstall. We would like to thank the customers and staff for the generous donations.
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At the end June VIC members were invited to a Manchester Mosque. It was a great experience for our members to meet everybody at the Mosque, learn and understand their culture and to celebrate the end of their fasting. We received this letter from the Mosque.
I really did enjoy the company of you and your colleagues, especially the two that attended first, one was from the army and the other the navy. I didn’t know what to expect when I heard veterans were attending the if tar but you try to remain open minded and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the company of all of you. In fact, I learned much throughout all the visits after engaging with our guests and you know what, it’s a two way street, we learn from each other. It really enriched me and my knowledge. It takes people like you to take that step into the unknown and when you get there you realise it’s not as bad as you feared. If more people from our communities took time to get to know each other we would all be in a better place as it would remove much of the doubt and suspicion. Keep up the good work and if there is anything I can do to assist you in the future please do let me know. I look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Hopefully through such interaction we can help break down barriers. Please pass my regards on to your colleagues for attending and for the very kind and generous donation, which I have put towards the Feed the Needy Project, where we help families with a month’s worth of food supply. Carnival brings crowds Sajja d Iqbal |
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On the 22nd June, VIC members enjoyed a walk around Musbury Heights. It replaced the planned Pendle Hill due to the weather.
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To launch the start of Armed Forces Week for 2017, VIC members attended two ceremonies; Rawtenstall and Haslingden.
The Haslingden Flag raising was held at Greenfield Memorial Gardens and was organised for a second year by VIC. There was a better turnout than last year, the Mayor was kind enough to raise the flag while speakers were our CEO Liz Hamilton, one of our trustees Jon Beilby and Bill Ogden a member of VIC and ex Royal Signals Warrant Officer. We were joined by Graham Jones MP, local clergy members of the local Haslingden Churches, RBL Branch Members and members of the local community. The VIC opened the centre after the ceremony where tea and coffee was served |
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On the 17th June VIC organised a veterans concert at St Mary's Parish Church in Rawtenstall. The guests included our Singing Group, the Wonderful Things children's Choir, Sarah Dennis - the veterans sweetheart and the Haslingden and Helmshore Band. The MC for the night was Peter Sweetmore. It was an outstanding evening and we have planned to organise another for next year. {See more}
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VIC members spent a few hours at the Imperial War Museum North at the beginning on June. This trip was organised as part of Social Inclusion project.
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The art group at Jubilee Court, Helmshore welcomed some more members from Highfield Hall care home, Haslingden. Some of those members live with Dementia and Alzheimer's but produced some amazing work.
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On the 1st June Tony Stubbs one of our volunteer outreach team was nominated in the Volunteer of the Year category organised by Rochdale CVS.
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On May Bank Holiday we opened the VIC Centre for our members, as this can seem a long break for some of our single members.
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We held our 16th Bob Ross art session at the end of May
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We had our information stand out at the Clog Margket as part of the 1940's Weekend in Rawtenstall on Saturday 27th May.
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Change to our planned walk on the 11th May due to number so, instead of Indians Head we took a walk around Hog Low Pike. Great weather and good views across Rossendale.
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The social inclusion trip to Brockholes on the 27th May was enjoyed by everyone who went. The weather was lovely and the setting of the nature reserve beautiful.
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On Saturday 21st May VIC members had a trip to the Bury Veterans Breakfast Club for a breakfast and then spent a few hours on a guided tour of the Fusiliers Museum in Bury.
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On the 12th May VIC members enjoyed a guided tour of The Police Museum, Manchester. We saw uniforms and equipment from the start of the Force to the present day. The Magistrates Court on display was originally in Denton Police Station. This Museum is open to the public every Tuesday and is free.
For more in formation on the Police Museum |
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On Monday the 8th May we havee started an outreach in Accrington Market. Veterans Association UK have allowed us to share their office between 1300 - 1500. Carole Mills one of our volunteer outreach workers will be covering this outreach.
For more information please email carolemills@vic.org.uk or call the office on 01706 833180 |
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VIC members continue to get the Middleton Allotment ready for growing, they have started to build and position the raised beds.
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VIC have been asked to build a notice board in Weir, an area of Rossendale. The base and raised beds have been installed at the beginning of May. The is one of the first projects of the 'Veterans In Production (VIP)' project.
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On Saturday 6th May we were invited to watch St Mary's FC play their last home game against Buscough Richmond. The first team is currently top of the West Lancashire Football League, they only need one point from the last two games to win the league. The VIC logo will be worn on next seasons strip.
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VIC were invited to opening of the Stubbylee Community Cafe on Saturday 6th May.
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The VIC Singing Group performed at the Haslingden Tesco on Saturday 6th May with Ronnie Barker as Musical Director.
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On the 29th April VIC held their 15th Bob Ross art session.
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In April VIC members have started work again on the allotment in Middleton. At the beginning of the year we signed for a second plot at the side of our existing plot. The shed has been secured, raised beds and fencing have been started.
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On the 13th April we made slight change to the organised walk. Instead of Winter Hill we enjoyed a walk around Rivington, taking in the sights of Liverpool Castle, Rivington Pike, the dovecote and the terraced gardens. Lunch was then enjoyed at Great House Barn Visitor Centre
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At the start of April one of our younger members Dominic Trotter who helps out at our allotments and at the VIC Centre completed a sponsored Tandem free fall jump with the Black Knights Club. Outstanding effort and well done.
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On the 6th April a works party started to secure parts of the perimeter of St James School after vandals destroyed the shed we had previously renovated and erected.
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We managed to recycle the shed that was vandalised at St James School. The roof will be used on a project in Weir where we are making a notice board and the back garden of the VIC Centre has a new bin area.
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We received some sad news on this morning of the 29th March, the shed we had put up at St James School in Haslingden had a further visit the previous evening. We had hoped to attempt repairs after it had been vandalised on previous occasions so the children could continue to use during break times. Unfortunatly the vandalism caused has made this impossible.
After we reported the last time spat of vandalism, we had many offers of sheds but a local resident came forward and offered to fund a replacement, this offer now means we can replace it with a new childrens shed. We had hoped that we wouldn't need to take him up on his generous offer but the recent damage caused us to rethink our plans. Although the school has replaced the fencing with metal security fencing there is still a few areas where they can get it. We heard that the children were very upset when they came and saw the damage. However we will continue with the work we are doing with the school and once the areas are secure we will install the replacement. |
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On March 24, four members returned to London to the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge Hotel where the winners of the 2017 Soldiering On awards were announced in an Awards ceremony hosted by former news reader Angela Rippon and Cassidy Little an ex Royal Marine and winner of BBC's Strictly in Aid of Comic Relief.
The Working Together Category which VIC were finalists in was won by the Forces Friends Project. |
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Towards the end of March our members have been preparing the rear garden of the VIC Centre for this year planting. The shed/ workshop is being set up to start on our new project - Veterans In Production (VIP).
We have been donated a wood working bench from Councillor David Stansfield and it was used for the this week to make Cold Frame to start to plant seeds for the garden and our allotment in Helmshore. |
Preston FareShare warehouse
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On Tuesday 14th March we added another Food Group food run, this is for the Accrington and Rossendale College (ACROSS) Food Group in Accrington. They run a similiar model to the Rawtenstall Positive Start Food Group which we are already involved in. This is a long term committment for our van and volunteer drivers. If you are interested in becoming one of our driver volunteers then please call the office on 01706 833180.
We are collecting food for two Food Groups now; Tuesday for Accrington and Thursday for Rawtenstall. |
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One of our members Chris Kavanagh has now got a rescue dog to help him cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD.
So successful has been the union of Chris with American bulldog cross Ranger, the former infantryman will now be helping Rossendale Responsible Animal Rescue, RRAR, to launch a new project. |
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On Thursday 2nd March we organised another of our social trips, we took a number of our members to Leeds Armouries. It was a long day but everybody enjoyed themselves.
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At the beginning of March we received some sad news from St James CE School in Haslingden.
The children were starting to enjoy using the shed during break times and before we could hand it over to the school it was systermatically vandalised by local teenages. Unfortunatly we tried to repair but the last damage that was caused meant it was no longer worth continuing with the build as they kept returning and causing more damage. The school has had to install security fencing at cost to themslves to try to stop people getting into the grounds at night. The work we are doing at the school wasn't only to provide this shed where the children could use to keep garden tools and as a potting shed but to help with the garden area in that part of the school. After a disappointing start VIC is continuing with the work to get the raised beds ready for planting flowers that the children have asked for; Roses, forget me nots, Poppies, Mint, strawberry plants, marigolds, sunflowers, tulips, daffodils and herbs. |
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On Friday 3rd March some of members attended a concert in Aid of the Mayor's Charity Fund, VIC were one of the beneficiaries of any money raised during the evening.
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At the end of February VIC were given 2 bags of food shopping from Haslingden CO-OP that they asked to distribute between needy veterans. We are also in the running to be the managers chosen charity where VIC get 1% of the total takings that the co op take in 6 months.
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On Saturday 18th February VIC Members visited the Trafford Veterans at the MESS breakfast club and the Imperial War Museum North. This is the first of many such trips where we will have a breakfast at Tameside and Bury breakfast clubs and then have walk around the Regimental museums.
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On Thursday 16th February VIC enjoyed a 4 mile walk around the Pendle Witches Trail
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On Thursday 9th February two VIC members, Liz Hamilton and Bob Elliott were invited to a champagne reception at the House of Lords in London as finalists in the national Soldiering On Awards Soldiering On Awards - Charity.
It was an opportunity to share the work of VIC with the five other finalists in the category Working Together and to meet some of the judges. The other finalists in the Working Together category are: Army Training Regiment Winchester; Brunei Stables Pony/Saddle Club; Forces Friends Project; The Invicta Foundation and Veterans Information Network Nottinghamshire. On March 24, four members will return to London to the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge Hotel when the winners will be announced in a ceremony hosted by former news reader Angela Rippon. We would not have got to be a finalist for this award without all the effort that all our members have put in over the last five years. It is a team award and recognition should go to everyone who has had a part to play in VIC being selected as a finalist; there are too many names to mention. As well as meeting the other finalists, finding out what they did and explaining the work of VIC, we also spoke to British Forces Broadcasting Service. The Soldiering On Awards provide national recognition for the outstanding achievements of those who have served their country and individuals and groups who work together with the Armed Forces Community. The Awards’ aim is simple: to encourage support for the UK’s Armed Forces Community by nationally recognising the achievements of groups, individuals and organisations that support this community. |
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On the 2nd February we had an information stand at the Time to Talk Day 2017 at the Riverside in Rochdale.
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On the 29th January one of our volunteer members Claire set up an Information stand at Stockport Army Reserve Centre, where she gave an overview of what VIC does.
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We received a cheque on Wednesday 25th January for £231 that was raised from last year's Remembrance day from the students at Alder Grange School in Rawtentall.
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On the 24th January we assembled a shed at St James's School in Haslingden that we were given last year and the original thought was to refurbish it and put it on our allotment in Helmshore. However we were asked by St James's School to help on their garden area for their pupils to grow things and have outdoors seating area. We offered them the shed once it was refurbished for the children to use as a potting shed. Jimmy Kudritzski started working on it last year. There is other work we are planning over the next few months.
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This year VIC members will be collecting the food for Positive Start Food Group in Rawtentall, Every Thursday our members will collect the food from the Fare Share warehouse in Preston ready for the distribution to the community in Rawtenstall. Two of our members Pat and Ivy are also volunteering on the Friday morning to help distribute the food. On alternate Thursdays we have the loan of the REAL minibus and we are looking for volunteer drivers. Please call the office on 01706 833180 for more information
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The VIC Centre was last painted in January 2014 so it was time to start again. We are also painting and resealing the window frames, there is some repointing of ridge tiles. The work is planned to be done over the next two months. We need volunteers to help, so if you can spare a few hours let me know.
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The first walk of the year was around Healey Dell, Whitworth. We were about 10/15 minutes outside Rochdale and we could have been anywhere
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The first Bob Ross course was held over the Xmas and New Year, it was well attended and some outstanding pictures were done.
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Mick, Doug, Bill, Lewis & Joe
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We opened the VIC Centre over the Xmas and New Year period again this year. Thanks to some funding from the Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant 'Open all Hours' we were able to lay on some food that was cooked by some of our members, the art room was opened for those who wanted to paint, the Wii competition was run again, and in excess of 60 of our members benefited from us opening. It was also a good opportunity for our members who wanted to come in and talk to others.
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