It is Important to Stay in Contact – Friends, Family and with Veterans.
Lots of us are feeling worried about the ongoing coronavirus and how it is affecting us. It would appear that the focus is often on physical health and statistics of people catching the virus, or dying from it. Its important to remember the impact on our mental health and ability to cope with the unseen impacts. You don’t need to be an expert on mental health to be there for a family member, a friend or even fellow military buddy who you know but haven’t spoken too for sometime. Some simple tips to follow:
Buddy Call: You might not be able to meet face-to-face, but picking up the phone, having a video call – zoom/skype/team etc, starting a group chat or messaging someone on social media lets them know you are there to talk and ready to listen if they need you.
The VCP has realised the importance of the Buddy Call system and our Veteran Support Workers are ringing other Veterans on a weekly basis to make contact and check in with them. If you are a Veteran and want to be on this Buddy Call – Simply call us on 02476343793 and we will call you back.
Listening & Understanding: Whether you have a mental health problem or not, this will be a challenging time for all of our mental health and wellbeing. If someone opens up to you, remember that you don’t need to fix things or offer advice. Often just listening, and showing them that you take them seriously, can help someone to manage. If you feel that this person is in immediate danger – ring the emergency services.
Asking questions Ask them how they are managing, and ask again if you’re worried they are not telling you how it really is. Asking again, and showing actual interest is called active listening, listening and caring can help someone to open up and let you know what they’re feeling.
The VCP is striving to be there for all of our Armed Forces Community, especially those across the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sub Region. We may not be a big charity with thousands of pounds at our disposal – but we a big enough to actually care and we will share what we have with you if you really need it.
Dont struggle in silence, if you are suffering from being socially isolated or just need a fellow veteran to talk to, to discuss how you are feeling and to share the common ground – ring us on 02476 343793 or email us support@veteranscontactpoint.co.uk
We care, we listen and we will get back to you.
Veterans Foundation Grant Awarded to the Veterans Contact Point
The Veterans Contact point are pleased to acknowledge the generous small grant made by The Veterans Foundation to help the VCP provide complimentary services to Veterans & Families across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull area who may be experiencing hardship or issues resulting from the impact of COVID19 social isolating/distancing. The money that has been provided has been raised through people playing the Veterans Lottery, you can sign up and play today by following the link below:
Play the Veterans Lottery
https://www.veteransfoundation.org.uk/lottery
We plan to use this small grant to provide and support a complimentary service in support of the fantastic work already being done across our Armed Forces Covenant Area – not to replace it:
We want to ensure Veterans are Included & Not Forgotten
A dedicated Telephone Helpline: 02476343793 & Email Enquiry: support@veteranscontactpoint.co.uk and Support Service. This is not an emergency service and will not replace existing community support links, but allow Veterans to make contact with the VCP.
We also want to develop a Virtual Veterans Community to provide a platform to allow Veterans to communicate with other Veterans to talk about common shared experiences; for CSW AFC Partnership representatives to provide regular information sharing sessions on a range of topics to help Veterans during the current lockdown.
We also want to ensure that the funding made by The Veterans Foundation allows us the flexibility to respond to needs identified by Veterans and for them to be identified within supportive groups to be able to keep them safe whilst in isolation or distancing.
You may not want support, or be able to provide support yourself – its about us the Veterans Armed Forces Community coming together to ensure “no one gets left behind or is forgotten”
We want also to continue the Armed Forces Covenant Partnerships aim to identify how many (Quanity) of us Veterans are living in the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire area. If you are a Veteran and you are in the Shielded/Social Isolating Group and you are already receiving support – please let them know you have served in HM Armed Forces. If you want to chat to another veteran – ring us on 02476 343793.
If you can be involved in our Virtual Veterans Community you will need and email address, PC/Laptop/Tablet/Appropriate Mobile Phone and internet access. Email us via: support@veteranscontactpoint.co.uk
Are you the Partner of a UK Armed Forces Veteran?
If you are and you want to share your views and experiences as a Partner of someone who has served and is in the period of transition from Military Service to Civilian Life. The aim of the project, led by Niamh a Trainee Clinical Psychologist with Coventry and Warwick University, who wants to shed light on how Partners can support Veterans when they leave the Military, and to explore how Partners themselves cope during this period.
Full contact details and ethical guidelines etc will be shared/explained by Niamh when contact has been made. Your views may help other Partners and the MOD itself understand the difficulties that transition imposes on families of those making the steps out of the military and into a second career in civilian street.
HRH Prince Charles Visits The Veterans Contact Point
Tuesday, 18th April 2020 was a very proud day in the life of The Veterans Contact Point and all who have been involved with this Nuneaton based Military Charity.
Following on from the Refurbishment Re-opening event in November 2019 opened by General The Lord Dannatt and Civil/Military Dignitaries and Veterans, HRH The Prince of Wales visited the charity to see first hand the work the VCP does in support of the Armed Forces Community Across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Area.
With nearly 80 veterans on Parade and Cadets from 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron ATC, Prince Charles was greeted with the usual pomp and circumstance befitting the future King. He toured the building and met many of the Military Charities and Organisations who help to support the needs of veterans and their families in our area.
A particular highlight of the day was being presented a Garland of Flowers from children of the local Gurkha/Nepalese Community and meeting the Children of Queens CofE Academy Junior School made the visit particularly pleasurable for HRH.
He was invited to unveil a plaque commemorating his visit, which now hangs proudly outside the new building. In his closing comments he thanked all involved for the work that they do in supporting Veterans and their families and appreciated the effort that was put into todays event, which he later commented as a friendly event to end his visit to the region.
The 18th February 2020 was a very proud day for all at the Veterans Contact Point when HRH Prince Charles visited the newly refurbished centre. He was greeted by over 30 Regimental Standards and over 12 Military Charities/Organisations who showed their support to the VCP.
Also present was young school children from Queens Academy Junior School our neighbouring school. The school head teacher Hannah and several young children also provided a stall in the partnership display area.
Support opens for Wives’, Girlfriends and Female Veterans
Last Saturday, 14th December the VCP opened its doors to its first female forum, which was hosted by Dawn Caswell a wife of a former Royal Signaller. Those who attended took the opportunity to bring a little Christmas cheer to the Reception and Training rooms. The female group thought the idea was a fantastic opportunity for females to get together and provide support to each other. Dawn is planning similar events in 2020 – watch this space for more details (We are planning for these to be on a Saturday morning – at least once monthly)
VCP Re-Opened on 9th October by General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL
After more than a year of closure Warwickshire’s only Local Military Charity reopened its doors to provide support to our Armed Forces Community. The opening event on the 9th October by Lord Dannatt helped to reinforce and recognise the important role played by The Veterans Contact Point to Veterans, The Serving Armed Forces Community, Local Authorities, Criminal Justice, Military Charities, Local Businesses and the wider Community from across the Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull areas.
With nearly 100 delegates, hosted by Balfour Beatty, Warwickshire County Council and The Veterans Contact Point, were given the opportunity to look around this fantastic “Giving Back” project.
The project was supported by Warwickshire County Council, Balfour Beatty and it Supply Chain and The Veterans Contact Point.
A proud day for Veterans and the Volunteers & Staff who give so freely of their time and resources, to be gifted with a fantastic resource to support the efforts made daily to ensure ” No one gets left behind”. It is anticipated that the Veterans Contact Point will now also be able to provide a social arena for the Armed Forces Community, Serving & Veterans, who will be able to access a modern building fit for purpose and in providing a warm and welcoming arena for more than just access to support services.
Link via YouTube to the official initial & re-opening videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq06NsHMwx8
The opening video can also be located on The Veterans Contact Point Facebook and Twitter pages.
https://www.facebook.com/veteranscontactpoint/videos/898590427209597/
Back on the Right Foot – Veterans Moving Forward Together
A 6 week course designed by Veterans for Veterans aimed at equipping veterans and their families to better understand and improve their skills to enable integration and general awareness of mental wellbeing in a friendly non-clinical way starts 21st April 2020 at The Veterans Contact Point in Nuneaton. It will run between 10:00 and 14:00 and will be co-delivered by Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust – Ex Armed Forces Service, The Recovery & Wellbeing Academy, The Veterans Contact Point and Ubique Partnerships.
The Course is completely FREE and aim at the Armed Forces Community – Those stills Serving, Veterans and their Families. Full details are shown on the attached poster. If you want more information please ring or email us: 02476 343793 contactus@veteranscontactpoint.co.uk
BREW & BANTER
Bored with your own company? Do you miss the military banter and company that you had whilst in the Military? Pop into the Veterans Contact Point on Wednesday between 14:00 -16:00 to enjoy some good old military banter with likeminded Veterans – Even the RAF Regiment are Welcome!
See poster for full details – no appointment needed – not open to Civvies
FREE Wets/Brews and Company – help with travel costs (bus & train fares) and links into other support if you need it.
Veterans into Work Program
Are you a veteran, unemployed and looking for work or training? We are providing a “Drop in” Veterans into Work Program here at The Veterans Contact Point – starting Friday 6th December 10:00 – 13:00 and then every Friday.
Interested and what more details? Who knows you may even get that ideal job that you have been seeking since you left the Armed Forces! This course is also open to Female Veterans and Partners of the Armed Forces both Veterans and those still serving
See the poster for contact details – Ring or email us – rock up and meet Roger our Expert Employment, Training & Education Advisor – No appointment needed.
We can help with bus fares and train fares – and the course us FREE
Veterans Wife & Female Partners – Tea & Chat
Starts Saturday 14th December 2019 10:00AM to 13:00PM here at the Veterans Contact Point, Horsa Building, Bentley Road, Nuneaton CV11 5LR
Come and join other Female Partners of Veterans/Serving Service Personnel for a FREE cuppa and a chat. Connect and create friendships with other women in our extended Armed Forces Community.