New March Veterans Hub is here to help

A new hub offering support and advice for armed and uniformed personnel has been launched in March.

The March Veterans Hub has been set up by Jeff Walters who served for nearly 25 years in the RAF and is based at Cassanos in High Street, and was officially opened by the town's mayor Councillor Kim French.

Its aim is to off a drop-on centre weekly on a Thursday where anyone who is currently serving or has served in any of the armed forces or the uniformed services such as the police or ambulance can visit for advice on a range of issues.

Jeff, who has been aided in the venture by a small band of volunteers, said the hub managed to help two people on its opening day on Thursday (21).

He said: "We have the support of the Armed Forces Covenant, and we had a number of help organisations including SAFA come along and more are interested in joining us. We can offer with all kinds of issues including mental health problems such as PTSD.

"The hub is also available to help the families of those who have served. As well as offering help we have books and board games so people are welcome to just come along and enjoy a chat and a cup of tea or coffee.

"We are really grateful to Kevin McCourt who owns Cassanos for his support in offering us the venue. He has been fantastic.

"Now we are looking for some funding so we can purchase laptops and other equipment and so we would love to hear from anyone willing to sponsor the hub."

The hub runs every Thursday from 10am to 4pm and sits alongside the existing successful veterans' breakfast club, which meets on the first Saturday of the month at Cassanos from 9.30am.

Jeff added: "The hub is there to help anyone who needs it and we will do whatever we can to offer the support people need.

"Often when you complete your service and return to civilian life you feel a little abandoned, that you no longer count as you are not doing anything useful - you've done your bit for the country and that's it. We hope the hub will help plug that gap and as I said it is for family members too."

Anyone who wants to help sponsor the hub can contact Jeff on 07785787875.