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Our first Carp Social angling competition of 2025 was held at a lake in Walthamstow, this is private members lake and VIC are so grateful to have the opportunity to fish this lake. A special thanks also goes to Carl Freshwater for supplying and cooking the food for the anglers, and to Barry Horsnell for organising another successful carp social.  
The weather was great, plenty of fish got caught, great company, great food and drinks, what more could you ask for. See you all again at the next event at Sandhurst Fisheries. Thanks everyone for making another great success. [More}

On Friday 11th April our Operations Manager Bob Elliott received a £250 donation on behalf of VIC from a fundraiser organised by Bacup's Irwell Medical Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG). We were one of the four beneficiaries of local charities which included Beacon Dementia and Wellbeing, Bacup Family Centre, Stubbylee Community Greenhouses.
We would to thank the PPG and Chairman Margaret Talukdar for this donation. Picture from Catherine Smyth Media

On Tuesday 1st April VIC veterans, Bob Brindley, Willie, Phil Speddy & Operations Manager, Bob Elliott attended Melba Swintex in Stubbins Vale Mill. There they met with owner, Michelle Dawson & member of staff Sharon Gilligan to present a laser engraved slate they’d produced.
The lads were enjoying a well-earned bacon butty in Stubbins whilst on their Rossendale walk of Remembrance, Nov 2024. Michelle who'd spotted them whilst driving past, pulled over and approached them with a kind heart, some uplifting words of support and a donation. 

Darren Horsnell and Steve Butterworth did a little more work on the background of the VIC's Model Railway Club model of the Glenfinnan Viaduct at the Accrington Veterans Drop-in.
The Railway Club meet every Wednesday and Friday, for more information on how to get involved please contact the office on 01706 833180.

Our choir’s first performance of 2025 was at Tesco in Accrington on the 22nd March. They were in fine voice and thanks to staff and customers raised a fabulous £289.71. A huge thanks also goes out to Jacko Pearce for his help with the bucket collection!
If you can spare any time to help us raise money at our supermarket performances, please do get in touch!

On Wednesday 19th March Brian Hawke our Community Capacity Builder on the Thrive Together NW project attended the open day to meet the team, explore the Wellness Garden, and learn more about the program at Weeton Barracks.
The Defence Gardens Scheme (DGS) is partnering with Roots to Branches Forest School to offer nature-based therapy for veterans, service leavers, and personnel at Weeton Barracks, Preston.

​Yesterday some VIC members visited the Veterans Support Centre in Warrington, they kindly donated a bike to an exciting new challenge we are in the process of organising. A group of veterans will be riding from the Cenotaph in London to Haslingden during Armed Forces Week.
They provided a bike, some spares and advice on general maintenance for the challenge. Thanks Arnie and Mark for donating a bike to us.
More information on the 'Riding for Forces & Families' will be posted when we have confirmed the route. Money raised will be going to three charities; VIC, Scotty's Little Soldiers and Lancashire Army Cadet Force.

​On Tuesday the 25th February our CEO Amanda Walton, Operations Manager Bob Elliott, Community Capacity Builder Brian Hawke and Phil Speddy attended  the Forces Wellbeing Collective held The Showcase to launch Thrive Together.
Over 120 people attended at The Edge in Wigan. Speakers from Step Together Volunteering, Burnley FC in the Community and Tom Harrison House. Ian Millen came up from Veterans Outreach Support based in Portsmouth to tell us about the work being done in his region. 

​On Sunday 23rd Feb VIC held a special "painting in the style of Bob class" This was in Memory of David Christian, a Bob Ross regular who sadly passed away. David's Daughter brought in a canvas print of him so he could keep an eye on everyone. There was only 3 people attend due to last minute cancelations. The theme was one of David's favourite topics which is the landscape with mountains and the log cabin. RIP mate.

Laurence one of the members  of the Railway Club who is also registered with Blind Veterans UK making good use of the CCTV Reader for some fine work on one of his Dioramas in Accrington on the 19th February.  

Clitheroe veterans coffee morning on the 18th Feb was once again busy, we had two new members started and many are staying on for Trinity Methodist Church Warm Hub.

Members of the VIC art group have started to paint the mountain and sky background scene for the railway group viaduct. The houses and the set up they have are of a very high artistic level and well worth a visit.

At the start of February we had two CCTV Readers donated by Blind Veterans UK for our members who have sight problems to use, we have one at the VIC Centre and one which is designed to be used for craft work was taken to Accrington for our Railway Club members.
We have number of our members who are members of Blind Veterans and these will be a great asset for us.

The Sandbag Cafe in Preston was very busy yesterday, in addition to the normal brew, banter and bacon butty we had Gary Crowe Veterans lead for Lancashire Constabulary and the Local Policing Team. They had the opportunity to speak to some of local veterans’ support organisations and veterans to better understand how the Police can support veterans in crisis and the wider veterans community. This was part of Lancashire’s ‘Peoples Voice’ series where their staff get the opportunity to meet with communities face to face.
It was very productive.