Wellbeing hub for veterans has new home in Rutland
CEO hopes the new location will reach more people
A service that helps veterans struggling with their mental wellbeing has a new home in Rutland.
Rutland Veterans Wellbeing Hub, which used to operate from the Rutland County Museum, has moved to the Oakham Baptist Church, on Melton Road, in Oakham.
The hub is run by Loughborough Wellbeing Centre, and is one of a number of services already established across Peterborough, Rutland and Stamford to support veterans.
CEO Helen Carter, has told Greatest Hits Radio why they decided to make the move from Catmos Street.
"We've been running the Rutland Veterans Wellbeing Hub, which is a monthly session, for the last year, but numbers were low so we decided to re-launch at a new venue that we thought might be more user friendly.
"The Oakham Baptist Church is already used well by the local population, including by veterans who are already accessing some of the services. So, it made sense for us to go somewhere where veterans already feel comfortable."
Sessions are held monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month, between 10:30 and 12:30.
Ms Carter explained more about the service on offer:
"The wellbeing hub is there to support veterans and their families, they may be elderly veterans but also people who've more recently retired from the Armed Forces.
"For some, transitioning back into the community can be challenging and they may need help with debts, benefits, employment, housing, and their mental health is a particular one that we look at to make sure they get support.
But Ms Carter, who's a veteran herself, says there are still some barriers that need breaking when it comes to mental health support for ex-service men and women.
She's told Greatest Hits Radio, they're hoping to reach more people.
"We know that one in four people has a connection to the armed forces within Rutland, which is a huge number of people. And so for us, it's very important that we support veterans back into the community.
"I think a lot of people might have a need but do not want to ask for help. Veterans can be very proud people. They've served for Queen now King of country, and therefore it is hard for them sometimes to ask for that help that they need.
"But we exist and we're here to support people."
More information about the support on offer can be found online.