Awards

Veterans in Communities were shortlisted as a finalist in the Rossendale Business Awards in the Not for Profit. Thank you for the nomination.

Armed Forces Community Lockdown Awards 2021

We were pleased to announce that we had been short listed in the 'The Armed Forces Community Lockdown Awards' in the Most Outstanding Charitable Contribution or Gesture in Lockdown category.
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Defence Employer Recognition Scheme 2020.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.
Bronze award holders:

are self nominated by employers who pledge to support the armed forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community
must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
promote being armed forces-friendly and are open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners

Rossendale Community Awards 2019

Rossendale Council's 2019 Community Awards were held on the 14th November at the Riverside in Whitworth and celebrated individuals and groups who go the extra mile to support others and help make their neighbourhoods better places to live.
One of our volunteers Jm Smith was placed as a finalist in the Rossendale Volunteer of the Year category.

English Veterans Awards 2019

Three of our members have been selected as finalists for prestigious armed forces’ awards.
The English Veterans Awards were presented on September 25 at the Mercure Bristol Holland House.

Outreach Worker Steve Butterworth, 59, from Holcombe Brook, was a finalist in the Role Model of the Year category for his work in the community as well as with the charity.

A finalist in The Community Award category, Darren Horsnell is the Arts and Crafts Coordinator for VIC and as well as running art groups he also organises popular Painting in the Style of Bob Ross classes. Darren was awarded a silver in this category.

Former VIC Transformational Coast Terry Morley, from Groundwork MSST is also a finalist alongside Darren. Terry won this category and is a worthy winner.

Liz Davies, 51, from Rochdale, is a Voluntary Outreach Worker in Heywood has been involved with the charity for nearly four years and was a finalist in Volunteer of the Year. Liz was awarded a bronze in the category.

Tom Davies trophy 2019

In a ceremony at County Hall in Preston on the 25th June 2019 to launch the National Armed Forces week, VIC was awarded Lancashire County Council’s Tom Davies Trophy for ‘outstanding contribution to the Armed Forces Community in Lancashire’.
Admin Officer Amanda Walton and member Jim Smith were delighted and surprised when it was announced the organisation had won the accolade, only the second time the award has been presented.
The trophy was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO, accompanied by the Chairman of Lancashire County Council. County Councillor Paul Rigby, Chairman of Lancashire County Council, said: "I'm honoured to present the Tom Davies Trophy to Veterans in Communities.”By offering a range of activities to support veterans, this group makes a tremendous contribution to the lives of people who have served and their families. "Returning to civilian life after serving your country can be difficult and it's crucial that we recognise the work of groups like this who make an outstanding contribution to our county. “Congratulations to Veterans in Communities for its invaluable work."
County Councillor Alf Clempson, champion for armed forces and veterans, said: "We are very proud of our nation's armed forces. "Lancashire provides a good number of recruits and is also home to a significant military presence, as well as thousands of people who have served their country.
"Our sense of history means we will never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf and we support veterans in a number of ways. “These include establishing our ex-services mentoring programme where veterans provide training to young people and our support for the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub, which we helped to set up.”
Project Lead of the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub Ian Barber was quick to praise the team. He said: “I just wanted to say a massive well done on receiving the Tom Davies Trophy. “You do great work at VIC which is often talked about, but now it has been formally recognised throughout the county. Keep up the good work.”
The trophy is presented annually to the group, charity or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the armed forces community in Lancashire in honour of Tom Davies who served in the Scots Guards until 1967. He then joined the police where he had a long and distinguished career. He was secretary and treasurer of the Scots Guards’ Association in Lancashire. He was Preston’s Parade
Marshal and sat on the Veterans Council. He was also involved with Preston Sea Cadets. Tom passed away in 2016 after suffering a heart attack while walking home, after watching Preston North End.
Last year the award was presented to Preston-based Dig In North West, a charity that works closely with VIC.

North-West Pride of Britain 2018

VIC had been nominated in the North-West TSB Local Pride. We would very much like to thank the person or persons who nominated us

Outstanding for VIC to get this recognition, and it goes to show the effort everybody puts into the work we do and our activities.

RBL Third Sector Award 2017

On Thursday 7th September 2017 at the The Royal British Legion Greater Manchester & Lancashire Area Awards Evening held 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.

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.

Soldiering On Awards 2017

On Thursday 9th February 2017 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 returned to London to the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge Hotel where the winners 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.

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 was 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.

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.

Rossendale Business awards 2016

VIC has been nominated for an award in this years Rossendale Business Awards organised by Valley At Work. The Finals were in November and unfortunately we were unsuccessful in being put forward as Finalist.
We were invited to do the raffle and raised £235 on the night

Britain Has Spirit 2016

Darren Horsnell was nominated and won the NW Individual Regional category of the Britain Has Spirit Award. He was entered into the National Awards Unfortunately he didn't make the final three.

Britain Has Spirit Individual Award 2016

ROSSENDALE BUSINESS AWARDS 2015

Veterans In Communities were nominated in the Not for Profit Business Award Category.

ROSSENDALE BUSINESS AWARDS 2014