Annual review for 2021

​VIC Annual Review for 2021
This reviews some of the main highlights of our activities and news from 2021. This year’s review of our activities had been affected by the COVID Pandemic and therefore we hadn’t been able to do many of the activities as pre-COVID years. However, we were just as busy and continued to develop and grow our range of activities and outreach services.

All our other news for 2021 can also be viewed in the Newsletters and New Stories on our website https://www.veteransincommunities.org/news.html  .

• For the first five months on 2021, VIC provided COVID marshals for the Rawtenstall and Acorn Centre Vaccination Hubs. Over the five months we had over 40 volunteers covering over 50 days on split shifts in all weather conditions. A conservative estimate is that our volunteer members gave over 4000 hours of their own time to ensure the rollout of the vaccine was successful.
• Using the funding from the Veterans Should Be Forgotten Project we loaned out a number of tablets to our members and some with internet access, so that they could keep in contact with families and friends and take part in our virtual groups; Sandbag Café, take part in meeting, the Mess Tin, Art Group, Choir, and Bob Ross art classes.
• At the end of April, the VIC Centre and the Accrington veteran’s drop-in was able to open again for some group activities and for other organisations to use to see their clients.  
• During 2021 we were shortlisted in the pathfinders Armed Forces Community Lockdown Awards, and finalists in the Rossendale Business Awards.
• We celebrated our volunteers during the Small Charity and during Volunteers week in June for their support during the COVID crisis and their support during 2020. Our volunteers and members are the key to our continued growth and running our activities.
• During Armed Forces Week in June, we took our van on a Road Show to Heywood, Haslingden and Clitheroe. We launched the Ribble Valley drop-in at the same time and at Accrington we decorated the Accrington drop-in. unfortunately restrictions meant we couldn’t attend an event in Burnley. On one of the free days, we invited our core volunteers to a BBQ at the Centre in Haslingden.
• In addition to the Middleton ‘Sandbag Café’, Heywood ‘Mess Tin’ and Burnley FC in the Community Breakfast Club, we supported the Blackburn Rovers with their new Veterans Breakfast Club in September.
• Our members helped with some Community Projects in 2021; Whittaker Park, Sabre Challenge, Mulberry Roots and Haslingden Community Link.
• Veterans In production made some bespoke garden furniture using pallets donated from JJO.
• Our members took part in some social trips, Harrogate Army College, Bolton Abbey and to the National Arboretum.
• In October we opened the centre on ‘Operation Return’, a great success with around 100 members, volunteers and those from the community dropping in throughout the afternoon and evening.
• Unfortunately, our Choir was unable to perform live during 2021 due to COVID, except one performance in December for Xmas at ASDA in Rawtenstall.
• Veterans In Production produced a new silhouette for Remembrance, it was a ‘We Salute You’ silhouette and in 2022 we will produce a different one.
• Our members and volunteers attended many Remembrance services and parades in 2021. In 2020 many had to be cancelled but in 2021 many were able to go ahead as planned. Our main reception has been changed due to a donation of a large Poppy and Book of Remembrance. It has become a Remembrance focal point for those entering the VIC Centre.
• We launched a new social group in in November ‘Greggs RV’ with a quiz at the VIC Centre in Haslingden. It was a great success and the numbers continue to grow, members can drop-in for a brew and one of the surplus donuts we collect from Greggs in Haslingden.
• We had over 50 members attend our Xmas meal at the Rose and Bowl and made up and distributed over 60 Xmas hampers. We were only able to do this with the support and donations from Tesco, ASDA, COOP, Alpine Fire and many food donations from our supporters.
• Sadly we lost 8 members in 2021 year; Brian Whitlow, Mick Armstrong, WW2 veterans Harvey ‘Paddy’ O’Hara and Jack Cunnane, Jack Gregory, Tony Stubbs, Duncan Johnstone and Miles McEvoy. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM