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Birchwood Centre Veterans Hub...
Birchwood charity is proud to present their Veterans Hub – a place for all veterans and their families in the local area to meet, chat and enjoy a free breakfast!
Birchwood is committed to changing the lives of veterans, who are often overlooked, devalued, and struggling. This initiative was created by the Birchwood Centres Social Inclusion team and David Scott, a veteran himself. Birchwood realised that much more support was needed for ex-service personnel, particularly in Skelmersdale; the closest veterans café was in Leyland. This needed to change to meet the needs of our local veterans, so the team came up with the idea of opening one here in Skelmersdale.
When it first launched, only a handful of veterans turned up but insisting that this service be available to those who need it, the team persisted and kept the groups running. Over time word got out, and more and more people started to take an interest and began showing up - now there are over twenty regular members from both Skelmersdale, Ormskirk, and even Wigan.
The groups are held at a range of venues including ‘The Pulse’, which is located on the ground floor of the Concourse Shopping Centre every first Saturday of the month between 10am- 12pm.
Their hub offers a warm and safe space for people to interact, open up
and mix with people who have gone through similar things, helping them feel less alone. This initiative offers any veteran regardless of age, ex-service, or still serving, a sanctuary where they can meet and enjoy a delicious free breakfast (meat courtesy of West Lancs Butchers), with like-minded people. No expectations, no pressure, informal, relaxed, and comfortable.
David strongly believes that there is a misconception about veterans; people can often see them as being mad, sad, and bad – however, in reality, it couldn’t be more different! With most just needing a helping hand, this is where Birchwood’s Veterans Hub comes in.
From this initiative, Birchwood Charity has the ability to support any veterans who need it. They can offer advice, support, and help to organise solutions for any mental PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). They can recommend them to the centre’s many wellbeing and lifestyle programmes such as help with homelessness, housing, emotional wellbeing, mental health, counselling, the social inclusion café, Psy-Tap therapy, and many other great services.
The Birchwood Centre is here for you, and if you’d like to find out
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Evening and Weekday meets coming soon!
more, Call 01695 713 248 or email ereferral@wlcrisiscentre.org.uk