Everton in the Community’s Health and Wellbeing arm is launching a project designed to support veterans within Merseyside.
Funded by the Royal British Legion, Knowsley Veterans’ Hub (KVH) aims to engage ex-service personnel who are at risk of isolation with sport, training and social activities.
Once ex-service personnel (EPS) return home they can often struggle to readjust and the stress of making the transition from such a structured, highly disciplined lifestyle to civilian life can lead to a myriad of interlinked problems.
The programme will build on the success of EitC’s award-winning ‘Inside Right’ project and will offer a range of engagement tools, support mechanisms and evidence-based behavioural change methods to improve the lives of veterans and their families.
As well as directly supporting veterans, the programme also stands to benefit the local community with the participants improving their skills, finding employment, avoiding potential anti-social behaviour and reducing their likelihood of ill health.
KVH will openly welcome veterans and their families to engage in the project with available provision including one-to-one information, advice and guidance sessions; weekly coffee mornings offering an informal opportunity for participants to meet and facilitate social bonding; invaluable referral links and signposting to ex-forces specific organisations and a wide range of physical activity sessions.
There are over 8,500 identified veterans across Knowsley and these figures are continually increasing along with the levels of homelessness, unemployment and substance misuse.
The programme will allow participants to re-gain structure and routine into their lives as well as providing tailored information and support for the Knowsley area.
Following on from consultations with Knowsley Council and Royal British Legion, delivery will take place at various accessible venues across Knowsley including King George V Sports Centre, Royal British Legion Surgeries and Knowsley Council One-Stop Shops.
For more information on Knowsley Veterans Hub and how to get involved contact Dave Curtis, KVH Project Coordinator, via email on david.curtis@evertonfc.com.
