Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans CIO The Victory Centre Victory Street Bolton BL1 4JA
Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans CIO end of year report 2020
Nobody expected what a year we was going to encounter. The first 3 months was relatively steady with Veterans coming into the centre for advice, counselling and various other issues they encountered on a daily basis.
When the pandemic hit us it changed the role of the centre. With the hub only being small we operated an appointment only system. The veterans were required to call ahead and book attendance. We had a massive increase of home visits with food bank donations, collecting and dropping off prescriptions and many more activities.
Social isolation was a big issue for the single veterans and our bank of volunteers worked very hard visiting properties and helping the veterans.
Some of the visits was out of hours as we operate a 24/7 telephone line which is always monitored.
At the end of the year we was informed the building we used for our hub was due to be demolished.
Bolton Council was fantastic and helped us find another property however that took 12 months, the uncertainty of not having a hub was very worrying not only to the volunteers but also the beneficiaries. Eventually a property was found, this took another 5-6 months to be finalised and the move was started.
The new building is fantastic and more accessible for the disabled veterans and we now have free parking, although it is not in the town centre it is still on a main bus route and easy to get too.
After the decoration was complete and a few minor repairs we was ready to move in. the phone lines needed connecting so we had access to the internet, this took another 4 months from moving in.
We are now up and running and the new centre is manned on a daily basis Mon-Fri
The foot fall has decreased but the phone calls never stop.
Stats for 2020
Mental Health 103
Homelessness 14
Poverty 165
Employment advice 18
PIP/Benefits 72
Other issues 164
Mr Ryan Jones BAFC4VCIO Trustee
Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans is a Registered Charity. Registered Charity Number 1183103
Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans CIO The Victory Centre Victory Street Bolton BL1 4JA
Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans is a Registered Charity. Registered Charity Number 1183103