VIKINGS IN THE COMMUNITY

THE home of Widnes Vikings will host drop-in sessions for ex-Servicemen and women.

The Halton Stadium’s Steppingstone Lounge is being used on the first Monday of every month between 11am and 1pm.

The monthly session is for ex-Servicemen and women including dependants, regulars or reserves to meet up and have a brew.

It provides an opportunity to share similar experiences, and come together in a relaxed social environment to pull up a sandbag, chat, and share stories.

The session will also offer frontline help where needed and direct access to support, advice, and guidance.

It will include employment, debt, benefits, welfare, mental health difficulties, housing, homelessness, drug and alcohol problems, Welfare Poppy Breaks, health and wellbeing, peer support and advocacy, and anything else that veterans feel they may be struggling with or benefit from.

The drop-in works in partnership with the Armed Forces Community Support Hub based in Warrington which is a standalone charity built upon a unique working partnership between SSAFA, Citizens Advice Bureau, The Royal British Legion, Defence Medical Welfare Service, Combat Stress, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (Veterans In Mind), Help For Heroes, Cheshire police, CGL Pathways To Recovery and localaAuthorities.

Gavin Jones said: “This is a fantastic and unique partnership pilot between the Hub, Halton Borough Council, NHS Halton CCG and the Widnes Vikings.

“The drop-in aims to reach out further in to the community, providing a friendly and supportive environment, for veterans to come together, meet new people who have similar experiences, engage in some military banter, and also access support, advice and assistance.”

For more information contact gavin.jones@armedforcessupporthub.org or phone 01925 246 955.