Veterans’ charity celebrates incredibly busy year

Photo: Liz Henson Photography

VIC Chairman Ronnie Barker

A hectic year of activities and outreach was outlined to people who attended the annual general meeting of Veterans In Communities.

Chairman Ronnie Barker told the meeting at the VIC Centre: “Year on year VIC is certainly growing with more outreach in Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle, Rochdale, Middleton and Blackburn.

“We have introduced football, now have allotments in Helmshore and Middleton and art has played a major part, it has continued to grow and Darren Horsnell has done an excellent job.”

Regular walks are held and team building challenges on Hoillingworth Lake, Rochdale with Alternate Forces.

The organisation has been working in partnership with a number of different groups including running art classes in a sheltered housing scheme and working with students at Alder Grange School in Rawtenstall.

Partnership working also led to football kit sponsorship from Lifestylish.

Volunteers from VIC cut the grass at the nearby Haslingden Baptist Church and have helped Haslingden All People’s Pools Initiative, working to reopen Haslingden Baths.

Veterans have also been represented at a number of events across the area they serve to raise awareness and funds.

Chief Executive Liz Hamilton said: “In a partnership project Overcoming Barriers in Greater Manchester we were working with the Military Veterans’ Service, Walking With the Wounded and Inspiration North West to deliver the peer support aspect of the project.

“This led to Operations Manager Bob Elliott writing a tool kit for the report which went to NHS England for other organisations to use. It explains about things that went right and those that went wrong to share the best practice.”

The charity was well supported by grants from East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group, Heywood Middleton and Rochdale CCG and the Armed Forces Covenant.

VIC also raised a large amount through donations, the VIC Singing Group raised £3,309 through performances and the sale of artwork netted £5,715.

Ronnie added: “Without the help and support from the East Lancashire CCG over the last four years, VIC as you know it would not exist. They have made sure that we have the necessary funds to be able to operate.”

All the staff, veterans, volunteers, funders and supporters were thanked for their part in helping to make VIC the success it has become.

The Haslingden-based charity was founded in September 2012 and since then has seen a massive growth.

In 2014 VIC was gifted premises in Bury Road and it now works throughout East Lancashire and the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale areas.