Ribble Valley Mayor’s Cuppa and Quiz with Clitheroe Veterans
A cuppa and quiz with former servicemen and women was on the cards for Ribble Valley Mayor Louise Edge when she called in at the new Clitheroe veterans’ hub.
The Trinity Methodist Church and Community Hub in Clitheroe is hosting get-togethers every Tuesday for former armed forces personnel courtesy of the charity, Veterans in Communities.
Veterans in Communities was launched in 2012 to support East Lancashire servicemen and women with mental health conditions returning to civilian life or suffering social isolation.
It offers a range of activities, including walking, gardening, community work, arts and crafts, and singing, designed and delivered by former veterans, who understand the needs of military personnel returning to civilian life.
It also offers a range of help and advice for servicemen and women, who have fallen into difficulty.
The mayor said: “Armed forces personnel often face disadvantages in civilian life, as a result of long periods of time spent away from home, injury or specific health issues.
“And I was delighted to meet former local servicemen and women at the veterans’ hub at Trinity Methodist Church, where they can be assured of a warm welcome, a cuppa and a quiz, every Tuesday.”
Ribble Valley Borough Council is an active supporter of the armed forces community.
In 2011 it awarded the Freedom of the Borough to the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and in 2013 signed an Armed Forces Community Covenant, which it renewed in 2022, marking its pledge to support servicemen and women living in the borough, enhance public understanding and awareness of issues affecting them and promote activities aimed at integrating them into the community.
Council staff have undergone specialist training in armed forces awareness and the council holds the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) bronze award.
Every June the council arranges a flag-raising ceremony at Clitheroe Castle marking the start of Armed Forces Week and in June the mayor lit a beacon at the castle commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The Veterans in Communities (VIC) group meets at the Trinity Methodist Church Community Hub in Parson Lane from 10am to noon every Tuesday and everyone is welcome.