Veterans trio in the running for top armed forces awards
THREE members of a veterans’ organisation have been selected as finalists for prestigious armed forces’ awards.
Liz Davies, from Rochdale, Steve Butterworth and Darren Horsnell work throughout the borough for Veterans In Communities and have been selected among the top entries in the English Veterans Awards.
Liz, 51, is a voluntary outreach worker at Haslingden-based VIC, having been involved with the charity for nearly four years, and is a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category.
She served for five years in the Royal Air Force and while working for VIC set up the hugely successful Sandbag Café in Heywood.
Liz said: “I was very shocked to find out I was a finalist. I am most proud of enabling 13 veterans to get blazers and regimental ties.
“They were not going to Remembrance events because they did not feel properly dressed.
“Now they often wear them to Sandbag, and they wear them with pride. They feel a part of the forces family again.”
Liz realised that there was more chance of veterans opening up and sharing issues in a more laid-back café style outreach than a clinical environment of a GP surgery.
She said: “Since launching the coffee morning, VIC has gained a further eight volunteers and the café now has a committee.”
Outreach worker Steve, 59, is a finalist in the Role Model of the Year category for his work in the community as well as with the charity.
A Falklands’ veteran, Steve has been with VIC since 2012 after he was referred to the art group by the Military Veterans Service because of his painting.
Fellow Falklands veteran Darren Horsnell, 57, has been involved with VIC from its inception and uses his incredible artistic talents to inspire others.
He is a finalist in the Community Award category.
The awards will be presented on September 25 at the Mercure Bristol Holland House.
To help the veterans cover the costs of attending the award ceremony, a crowdfunding page has been set up.
Anyone who wishes to donate should visit www. crowdfunder.co.uk/ help-get-our-veterans-totheir-awards-ceremony