The Mayor Of Sefton has hailed the first birthday of the Southport Armed Forces Community Hub as providing a vital lifeline for thousands of serving armed forces personnel, veterans and their families across the borough.
Cllr Clare Carragher grew up in a military family as her father was serving in the Army.
She was at the Hub this time last year to officially launch the new facility.
The Mayor is delighted to have since been invited to become the President of Southport Royal British Legion, which operates the venue.
Cllr Carragher continues to do all she can to support the military community by recently taking over the role as Sefton Armed Forces Champion.
She said: “It was late last year when Southport Royal British Legion asked if I would like to become President. I said yes straight away, I would love to.
“Then I was asked to become the Armed Forces champion for Sefton. We are just about to sign the Armed Forces Covenant too.
“It has been good, with lots happening.
“In Sefton we have around 27,000 veterans, and that is just the under 60s. We have a lot of older veterans living in our borough too.
“We have the Altcar Training Camp in Hightown and the RAF Woodvale air base in Formby too.
“We are intrinsically linked with the Armed Forces here in Sefton.
“That is why a facility such as the Southport Armed Forces Community Hub is so important, not just for serving members of the Armed Forces and veterans, but also for members of their families as well.”
People are invited to head down to the Southport Armed Forces Community Hub this Saturday (21st January 2023) as it celebrates its first birthday.
You can enjoy a cuppa, some cake and some great company at the centre, on Wesley Street in Southport town centre, any time between 10am and 2pm.
The charity chose such a central location so it would be easily accessible to anyone who needed it.
It is there for friendship; a place where people can call in for a coffee and comradeship; to seek support; and to discover more about the growing list of local RBL events taking place such as the Poppy Ball, Armed Forces Day, Remembrance Sunday and others.
New volunteers are always welcome, and much-needed, and they don’t need to have any connection with the military to help.
Cllr Carragher said: “The venue started out as Southport Veterans’ Hub, and has since been renamed the Southport Armed Forces Community Hub, which makes a lot of sense.
“It is there for everyone who needs help and support, whatever their age.
“Families of those in the Armed Forces need support too. There are lots of siblings, husbands, wives, parents, and the Hub is a place where they can connect with other people who can know and can understand just what they are going through.
The new Southport Veterans Hub has been officially opened by Southport MP Damien Moore and Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Carragher. They were welcomed by Southport Royal British Legion Chairman Major Nick McEntee, serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans from a number of local Forces charities and organisations. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
“When I was young and my Dad was in the Armed Forces, the Falklands War started. I was so upset, I was so frightened about what might happen. I was worried that my Dad was going to die. There was no-one I could talk to at the time who could understand what I was feeling and what I was going through.
“If we had had a Hub like this back then then it would have made a massive difference to our lives as a family, and to many other families. It would have made a huge change to my Mum’s life.
“We need to be more visible with the support that we offer for the Armed Forces community.
“People think that soldiers are tough and strong, and can cope with anything, and that when they come out of the Army they go straight into having illustrious careers.
“That is very far from the truth with many veterans.
“A lot of soldiers come out of the Army and they feel lost.
“They leave suddenly and they miss their friends, they miss their daily routine, they miss their status, their camaraderie, their way of life.
“It is the same with their wives and their families as well.
“They have to come out and start new lives. It is not an easy thing to have to do.
“Having this Hub in the centre of Southport provides fantastic support for people.
“It relieves pressure on the NHS as well because volunteers in the Hub are able to signpost services, and offer support when people need it.
“For older veterans, it is a way of finding friendship and companionship and avoiding isolation.
“It is wonderful to have such a superb facility in Southport, where anyone can just drop in.”
- Southport Armed Forces Community Hub is at 8 Wesley Street, Southport town centre. For more details please contact Southport Royal British Legion on: 01704 651947.
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