Special events & news
Film Premier - Return Belong & Prosper
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Drawn on the 7th May. The winner was presented with the picture at Clitheroe on 29th May at the weekly outreach.
Darren, who is the Volunteer Arts and Crafts Co-Ordinator at Haslingden-based charity Veterans In Communities, VIC, discovered painting as a means to express himself and it provided a therapy that enabled him to cope with the traumas of war. The Royal Artillery soldier, from Haslingden, struggled with anxiety and panic attacks and was diagnosed with chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was introduced to painting while being treated at Combat Stress, and that set him on the road to recovery. Now, he has created a giant painting, completed in Winton paints on canvas, which is being raffled to raise money for VIC. Darren has been involved with VIC since it launched in 2012, and the raffle is his way of saying thank you to the charity for the support it has provided him over the years. He said: “The inspiration behind the painting is my love for African wildlife. When I was being treated at Combat Stress, I found out that I suffer from audio hallucinations and I was struggling with that. The consultant suggested I imagine a silver back gorilla to stop the voice and it worked, so I painted one.” Darren was inspired by renowned wildlife artist David Shepherd, who was well known for his elephant paintings, set up the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and was passionate about conservation. Darren added: “Now the raffling of my rhino painting will benefit others as the money raised will support the work of VIC and will also help raise money to run free art classes workshops in macrame, glass painting and clay model making.” | ||
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Our outreach worker Steve Butterworth has been involved in the publishing of a book of Poems and Reflections of the Falklands Campaign in 1982. I'm pleased to say you can now pre-order this book from the HMS Hermes website, the cost for the hardback is £18.99 and the paperback is £12.99.
The poems and reflections have been written by the veterans who served in the South Atlantic, their families, friends, widows and some of the islanders who endured the invasion. All proceeds are going the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA 82). Steve wrote... 'Throughout the annals of history, men and women who have experienced the horrors of war and conflict around the globe, have returned home to little or no understanding of the places and situations they have found themselves in. The sights, sounds and smells of war are not something easily forgotten or dealt with. The written word of the combatant rather than the spoken, has through the generations communicated these experiences. They are the unspoken conversations put to paper, as diary entries, reflections, short stories, but more often than not as poetry. Civilians and innocents caught up in conflict have suffered the same traumas. This book is an account of the Falklands Campaign in 1982, using the medium of the written word by those who fought, their loved ones and the islanders themselves.' |
VIC Charity Carp Anglers
For more information of the upcoming Carp Angling Competitions please contact either Darren Horsnell on either Darrenhorsnell@vic.org.uk or call the office on 01706 800180
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Please check our Facebook Veterans In Communities Charity Carp Social group for all the latest planned events and how to get involved.
Next Angling Competitions
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