Vets’ drop-in shop off to flying start
CATHERINE SMYTH
AVETERANS’ charity has opened a town centre dropin shop and the response has been ‘phenomenal’.
In the first few days of opening at Accrington Arndale Centre, more than 40 people had crossed the threshold and now a team of new volunteers have stepped up to help Veterans In Communities run the shop.
VIC is based in Haslingden but works throughout East Lancashire.
Arts and crafts co-ordinator Darren Horsnell has relocated his popular Tuesday art group to a back room at the shop and the premises is open for people to drop-in on Tuesdays and Fridays when volunteer outreach workers are on hand.
Bob Elliott, operations
manager, said: “We have had an outstanding start to the veterans’ drop-in and we weren’t expecting so many people to have visited us at this early stage.
“The shop is looking brilliant and we are very grateful to volunteers Brian McEvoy and Gary Horrocks for decorating the inside.
“We had donations of furniture from North Lancs Training Group, Argos, Transformational Coach Gill Hughes and Tony Haynes from Veterans’ Association UK.”
Gareth Gregson from Sign it Up in Haslingden created a sign for free which is in place outside the shop and window signs were provided by Reece Francis at PixelOne.
One of the first visitors to the new shop was seeking a cap badge from his National Service days, and VIC was able to help.
Ronald Grimes, 86, from Accrington, who had served in the Loyals, called in and met VIC volunteer Gary.
He explained how he was looking to find his old cap badge and Gary made a search of internet auction site ebay.
Not only did he find the badge, he also found an old book on the Loyals.
Bob added: “We are getting veterans, families and the public coming in regularly to have a chat, look at the art work on display and asking for information.
“We have a growing number of veterans volunteering on Tuesday and Fridays and these will be start of the new team we are building.
“We have increased some of the displays to include our Lest We Forget merchandising and from next week we will have a selection of art materials at discounted prices.”
The shop is staffed by veteran volunteers Andy Stevenson, Bill Buckley, Brian and Gary and is open Tuesdays and Fridays 10am to 3pm.
For information on volunteering or advice dropin into shop or call 01706 833180.