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.
Armed Forces Covenant in Action
| Army Reserve Recruitment event: Wednesday 17th April As part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, WCC is hosting an Army Reserve recruitment event on Wednesday 17th April. This will take place in Shire Hall, Warwick between 11.30-2.30pm with presentations in Committee Room 1 at 1pm. There are 4 Reserve Units attending: 243 Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps, Coventry (with opportunities to be Drivers, Chefs and Supply Specialists) 37 Signal Regiment, Redditch (with opportunities to be Communications Specialists/Engineers) D Company, 4 Parachute Regiment, Rugby (with opportunities to be a parachute trained soldier) 126 Recovery Platoon, 103 Battalion REME, Coventry (with opportunities to be a vehicle/recovery mechanic, armourer, combat medic) As a Reservist an individual will get paid for the time spent training, and a bonus payment for completing a certain amount of training days each year (usually 27 comprising of evenings, weekends and an annual camp). The pay scale will be based on what a Regular soldier with the same job and rank would get. For further information please contact Phil Deakin, Armed Forces Covenant Worker on afcc@warwickshire.gov.uk or 01926-476862. |
Meet Up, Eat Up and Put Your Feet Up
 An opportunity to meet other veterans. Meet Up,Eat Up and Put Your Feet Up is a new lunch opportunity in Polesworth, Mancetter and Coleshill. This is being organised by the Nuneaton and Bedworth Healthy Living Network in collaboration with the Veterans Contact Point (VCP). The lunches are open to all and cost £4 for a home made 2 course meal. Every month they will be held in: Polesworth Memorial Hall (first Monday) Mancetter Memorial Hall (first Tuesday and the 3rd Sunday) Coleshill Town Hall (the last Friday) Nick Caswell, Veterans Outreach Worker from the VCP will be there to support any veterans who attend. For more information please call 02476-322048. |
Leamington FC signs the Covenant
‘Leamington FC Chairman Jim Scott recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant for the club, pledging to uphold the key principles of the Covenant and support serving personnel and veterans. The Covenant was signed jointly by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Walkley, Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, in a ceremony held at the Club’s Phillips 66 Community Stadium in front of local dignitaries, both serving and former military personnel and invited guests. The Club are supporting the employment of veterans, offering flexibility to Reservist employees and families of serving personnel and taking part in the Tickets for Troops Initiative.
Kineton Health Fayre: Raising awareness of Covenant Support
Kineton Station held its annual ‘Health Fayre’ on Monday 25 March. The stall on the Armed Forces Covenant was very popular and gave Phil Deakin, AFC Worker for Warwickshire County Council, the opportunity of promoting the benefits of the Covenant to both serving personnel and their spouses. Now, was it Phil’s winning personality or the goodies that were on offer that attracted people to the stall?! If you’ve missed it, serving personnel can still learn about the Covenant here and spouses here.
| A pupil from Smith’s Wood Academy is set to see her design in flowers after winning the annual Love Solihull flowerbed design competition. The competition is in partnership with the Royal British Legion and their ‘Thank You’ campaign, which last year marked 100 years since the end of World War One. The competition received more than 300 entries from 12 local schools but it was Tamzin Clarke, age 12, who drew the winning entry. Her design will be used to transform a flowerbed at Malvern Park and showcases the importance of the Poppy as a symbol of hope and remembrance. The Love Solihull ‘Thank You’ display is at Touchwood until the end of April and can be seen by the exit next to Zara. |
Other Information:
- Veterans Cafe at St. John’s Museum; first Tuesday of every month, 1030-12.30pm
- Veterans’ Hub Drop In, Unit 7, The Arcade, Atherstone, first Thursday of every month, 1030-12.30pm
- Royal British Legion drop in at Galanos House, Southam, every first Tuesday 10-2pm
- Royal British Legion drop in at Riverside House (Warwick DC), every 4th Monday, 1-3pm
Contact us: afcc@warwickshire.gov.uk
March 2019 Update – Balfour Beatty/WCC/VCP Refrubishment “Giving Back” Project
Internal Refurbishment – Balfour Beatty & Sub Contractors
Internal refurbishment of the Horsa Building has included removal of some internal walls, installation of new stud walls, improvements in disabled access and reconfiguration of shared communal areas: i.e. toilets/shower room/kitchen area.
New Kitchen Area
Trg Rm- Power/Lighting Cables)
Trg Rm (View left side from Fire Exit towards new Toilet Area)
Trg Rm (View Entrance to Fire Exit)
The Partnership Office is in a similar state of refurbishment with all walls plastered, first fix electrical/lighting cabling installed. A new utilities cupboard has been formed to the rear of the office next to the fire exit.
Pictured below are the plans showing the final refurbishment of the Horsa Building.
March 2019 – Foundations for new annex building and installation of external building.
Plans showing new interior – some changes have already taken place
( Artists impression)
New building following refurbishment
Hold the Date – Wednesday 15th May 2019
Refurbishment of the internal building continues, additions of new annex and planning for external areas. The Project Team envisages that all works will be completed to schedule. Planning has also started to celebrate the project completion with a re-opening ceremony planned for Wednesday, 15th May 2019 and the handover of the building back to The Veterans Contact Point.
Attendance at the Re-Opening/Handover Ceremony on the 15th May 2019, will be by invitation only. However when the building has been handed back to the VCP, it will be open to the local community to come and look around the new Veterans Centre.