VIC Centre

The VIC Veterans Centre

Aerial view of the VIC Centre

The VIC Centre is the main hub for Veterans In Communities where VIC members, members of the armed forces community and families can drop-in five days a week.

The Centre offers a range of weekly activities; these activities can also be therapeutic for those who are experiencing some difficulties after leaving the armed forces or those who enjoy socialising with like-minded people.

Our outreach and office staff are also based from the centre when not working out in the the operation communities.

The Centre is staffed by a core team of veterans and volunteers; through their experiences the Centre has a calming and relaxed atmosphere, a safe environment and a place where groups or individuals can meet others or meet one of the outside agencies they may be working with.

Organisations who hold a regular outreach at the VIC Centre

NHS Military Veterans Service use our therapy room for hold sessions with veterans living in Rossendale and parts of East Lancashire

Information and services within the centre.

VIC delivers a range of services and activities from this centre;

A free, confidential information and advice service.
An operating base for our community projects.
Ex-service charities, public sector or other third sector organisations are able to use the centre to deliver their outreach services.
A daily drop-in for any ex-service personnel and their families.
Affordable facilities for Social Enterprises and local business.
A training and conference facility for VIC and the wider community.
Art and craft workshops through the Creative Community Hub.
A base for our VIC Choir to rehearse in.
A 'Dig for VIC' garden area at the rear of the Centre with a raised bed and small workshop for wood working.
A Veterans In Production project that builds a range of garden furniture, planters and benches using recycled pallets.

The VIC Centre has a number of rooms and facilities available. Each room has been named after one of the UK’s operational deployments, post 1945.

Rooms available to rent or hire.

[For more information]

Rooms currently in use and not available to Rent or Hire

HERRICK
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014.

This room is situated on the first floor and is not available for long or short term rental.

GALLEY
The Galley is the name used on onboard ships and boats instead of a kitchen.
This is the kitchen and staff area, where members and guests can sit down for rest breaks
The kitchen was sourced locally and fitted by VIC members.

MUSKETEER
Operation Musketeer (French: Opération Mousquetaire) was the Anglo-French plan for the invasion of the Suez canal zone to capture the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis in 1956.

This is the VIC office where our outreach team work from.

Tellic

Operation Telic (Op TELIC) was the code name under which all of the United Kingdom's military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011.

This room was the old IT suite, in June 2020 we built a partition wall and this is now with our admin office. There are now only three computers for our members to use.

BACK YARD
At the rear of the building there is a large enclosed area which has a patio, areas for planting, and a parking for vehicles.
This area wa been developed further thanks to the funding we received through the Social Prescribing grant from East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (ELCCG)