Our FirstLight Trust Hubs may have temporarily closed their actual doors in March 2020, but our virtual doors have remained open.
During this time, we have continued to deliver support to veterans particular to their needs e.g., housing, employment, money and debt management or through the hundreds of phone calls we have made, as a listening ear just to say hello and alleviate the isolation being felt. The restrictions of lockdown significantly increased loneliness and isolation for many veterans, one way we tackled this was by offering more emotional support through activities. We have been working with veterans to build their self-esteem and state of wellbeing giving them the confidence to ask for help when they need it.
We have delivered many activities, ranging from things to do at home, virtual sessions such as ‘Brew and a Chat’, art therapy to cooking sessions which have been a tasty experience for all. Out in the fresh air veterans have taken part in walks, cycle rides transformed the garden spaces we have in Gosport and Scarborough and crops have been plentiful.
We have been incredibly grateful to the people who have supported and funded us during this time to enable us to do the work so vitally needed, and now more than ever. However, the sincerest gratitude must go to our amazing team who without them our organisation would be nothing and veterans would not receive the support they do.
We can still provide you with 1:1 support as long as we adhere to social distancing. Please contact your local Support Worker if you need support:
Sam (Gosport) 07881232597
Rachel (Redcar) 07721237315
Gary (Lancaster) 07464828051
Lynne (Hereford) 07342080362
Jane (Hawick) 01450 218647
Alison (Scarborough) 07775758388
John (Scarborough) 07464828050
We sincerely hope we will not be closed for too much longer but as the situation is completely out of our control, we are unable to give any further assurances at this time. We review Government guidelines on a regular basis, but we have to be socially responsible. We are still very much here to provide vital support to veterans of the armed forces and emergency services as we always have done. If you know of any veteran in need of help please send them in our direction.
Please stay safe, everyone.
