Scarborough Veterans Hub Reports Strong Growth in First Six Months as it Appeals for Community Support

The Veterans Hub in Scarborough has reported significant growth and activity during its first six months of operation, demonstrating strong local demand for dedicated support services for the Armed Forces community in North and East Yorkshire.

Since opening in May, the hub has rapidly expanded its membership and service provision. Dr Lori Boul, the Veterans Hub Lead, noted the positive uptake, stating that the membership figure is nearing 70 and confirming that the hub has handled over 125 enquiries since its launch.

Dr Boul detailed the early success:

"We opened in May. We've got nearly 70 members now signed up. We've been doing dropins and answering inquiries. Nearly 100 individual inquiries.

A lot of the inquiries we're getting are people who want to know about things like veteran ID badges and the discount cards. Some of them want to know about financial advice and information on pensions and various things. We generally know lots of places to signpost people to if we can't do anything about it.

And the social events have been good as well because they like to get together together and have a chat."

Filling the Support Gap

The existence of a dedicated local space is particularly relevant given recent findings from the Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA). A survey highlighted that over half of veterans polled (56%) were unaware of the support services available to them across the UK. Furthermore, of those who had sought help, nearly half (44%) found accessing support difficult.

Crucially, the survey revealed that over 50% of veterans expressed a preference for making contact in-person at local service hubs, which are reportedly scarce. They also reported that staff having expert (32%) and military (25%) experience was important.

The Scarborough hub, located at 2b Royal Avenue, appears to meet these specific needs. The Hub Lead proudly asserted that the facility provides the only dedicated physical space for veterans south of Catterick, east of York and north of Hull, where veterans can contact staff in person and receive support from people with military experience.

Expanding Services and Partnerships

The hub offers several key services and social opportunities. These include regular drop-in sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Beyond initial information and signposting regarding ID badges or pensions, the hub is expanding its remit:

• Welfare and Financial Advice: A specialist Citizens Advice service (Thrive Together) runs drop-in sessions twice a month, offering help with benefits, debt, housing, and signposting to legal advice.
• Social Activities: The hub hosts social events, including the Veterans Sunday Club at the West Riding Pub and Veterans Breakfasts offered at Scalby Manor and the Carousel.
• Community Work: Hub members have contributed to local commemorative efforts, such as making 102 poppies for the Moonlight on the Lake exhibition in Peasholm Park.
• Collaboration: The Veterans Hub is actively working with other organisations, including the Scarborough and Filey branches of the Royal British Legion (RBL), St Catherine’s Hospice, and Scarborough Cricket Club, to support the Armed Forces community.

New Chief Executive Officer at Age UK NYCM, Alex Parker, who visited the hub, said he was "pleased to see some of the excellent work that is already being delivered" and looks forward to strengthening the growth and reach of delivery in support of the Armed Forces Community in North Yorkshire.

Dr Boul also outlined her vision for early intervention support for service personnel coming out of the armed services.:

"If we can get them at the point of discharge, provide a mentor for them to help them with that transition into civilian life, I think that would be a major bonus for them. It would also stop an awful lot of the problems you have with mental health and homelessness because once they come out, if they are having issues and they don't get sorted straight away, two years down the line, you've got some very major issues.

So, actually being able to capture them at point of discharge would be really good and their partners because their partners also have problems as as well and helping them transition into civilian life is a thing that I'm quite keen on as it were."

Urgent Call for Volunteers

To sustain and increase this vital support, Dr Boul has issued a strong appeal for volunteers to help run the centre and shape its future. She acknowledged that the hub's membership growth is steady, but increasing the team of volunteers is crucial.

Dr Boul reinforced the need for veteran input to determine the services offered and explained what she would like to see at the hub:

"more members come in, join the hub, come be part of it. I want the hub eventually to be run by volunteers. So, we need volunteers to come in and take an active role in in deciding what they want because it's not about what I want. I've got ideas, but I really want to find what the veterans want and how we can provide that for them. So, lots of volunteers and come and join us and be members and get our wonderful newsletter."

Volunteers are also needed to help conduct a survey to better ascertain what services and events members would like, as attendance at some recent social events has varied. Individuals interested in helping with the survey can contact Maggie at the Veterans Hub.

here are more details about the hub at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/northyorkshirecoastmoors/our-services/the-veterans-hub-d6d7bd1a-190e-ee11-a81c-6045bd94e88e/

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