Veterans can seize the clay ... thanks to grant
Cash boost secures 12-months of pottery and IT classes
An Armed Forces benevolent charity has helped deliver a boost for Erskine veterans.
Cash totalling £18,150 has been ploughed in to the Erskine Activities Centre, thanks to The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The future of the centre’s IT and pottery classes has been secured for a 12-month period thanks to two grants from the charity’s Force for Change programme.
Classes have helped veterans learn new skills, as well as providing an opportunity to network with other veterans, after the rigours of the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult to combat isolation and loneliness, as well as hitting opportunities to build social networks.
But IT classes at the centre have been helping ex-service personnel learn the value of moving online, as well as helping to offer ways of keeping in touch with loved ones and accessing digital services.
The funding has ensured that veterans can build a variety of skills through the technology classes, as well as offering software and computer literacy courses.
Classes are member-led to offer maximum benefit for those attending.
Pottery sessions offers veteran the chance to explore their artistic talents, helping build the camaraderie and military banter infamous amongst their ranks and aiding new opportunities for social interaction and the chance to build new friendships from shared experience.
Erskine’s Activities Centre is aimed at helping improve wellbeing and increasing skills which help overcome social isolation.
Debs Dickson, manager of the Erskine Reid Macewen Centre, said: “The Erskine veterans are absolutely delighted at the continued support by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust.
“Both classes have a loyal following. which provides structure, routine and therapeutic advantages for all involved.”
Membership and classes at the site are available free of charge to any veteran, and their spouse or carer living in the local area.
To find out more about becoming a member at the Erskine Activities Centre, visit www.erskine.org. uk/get-support/reid-macewenactivities-centre/
The Erskine veterans are absolutely delighted at the continued support by the Armed Forces Coventant Trust
Debs Dickson