Veterans in Sefton unveils new Brunswick Holistic care room

Veterans in Sefton unveils new Brunswick Holistic care room.

Expanding its support services to the ex-Armed Forces community in Sefton, Veterans in Sefton has now created a new one-to-one holistic care room at its Brunswick Youth and Community Centre HQ.

Opened with the help of the Southport Lions, the VIS  holistic care service will focus on helping to increase clients’ self-confidence, reduce their social isolation and tackle any mental health issues they may face, as well as advising on these and other  practical matters.

Southport Lions Club are part of Lions International, a worldwide service organisation whose members give their time and efforts voluntarily to put something back into their community and make a difference.

Veterans in Sefton Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was established by Sefton Council, Sefton CVS and the local Clinical Commissioning Groups to co-ordinate support for Veterans and serving military personnel across the borough, including family members.

According to NHS figures, there are an estimated 27,000 veterans under the age of 65 in Sefton, around 13 per cent of who have complex issues that need to be addressed.

Other support services offered by Veterans in Sefton include information and advice on training, employment, housing and finance issues, together with the provision of mentor and befriender support from experienced former members of the Armed Forces, who themselves may have had similar problems faced by many of those who are now looking for real and effective help.

Veterans will be able to use the new room to meet former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Steve Calderbank, the organisation’s Holistic Care Co-ordinator, who is providing a service which is the first of its kind in the North West.

Steve – a trained psychotherapeutic counsellor – acts as a key link between veterans with mental health problems and the mainstream services that can provide the help they need.

Veterans in Sefton CEO, Dave Smith, commented: “We’re very grateful to Southport Lions for providing the funding for the holistic care room which is a really exciting and important new resource for us.

“It will provide a safe environment in which veterans will be able to explore, understand and rationalise their problems or conditions, receive appropriate support and develop a positive attitude about their treatment and the best way forward.”

Southport Lions President, Barbara Murphy, said: “Veterans in Sefton is involved in some excellent work across the borough and we’re delighted to have been able to help them create this new facility.

“It will enable the organisation to provide further much-needed support to a group of people who make such an important contribution to the safety and security of our country.”

Ex-Forces and their families who wish to enquire about this new service (or any other of the range of support services offered by Veterans in Sefton), should contact Dave Smith 0151 933 0800. All calls are treated in strict confidence and it doesn’t matter what the problem is – the first step is to talk about it.