SHARKS LAUNCH VETERANS HUB TO COMBAT SOCIAL ISOLATION

Sharks Community Trust is excited to announce that thanks to funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust it will be rolling out an exciting new range of activities to work with ex-service personnel, serving personnel and their families.

 

‘Social Sharks’ will engage communities across the North West as a catalyst to promote connectivity by bringing people together in activities that support physical and mental wellbeing.  The project will also enable veterans within the community to reconnect with other generations through memory sharing activities.

Sharks Community Trust is delighted to announce the first ‘hub’ will run out of Sale FC’s Training Complex in Carrington. The Trust is delighted with the support from Sale FC to utilise their new clubhouse, and the use of the facility will facilitate 1-2-1 meetings between veterans and Trust staff, small group sessions, art therapy, horticulture and in the future gym sessions.

 

 

Mental Wellbeing Officer, Eddie Owen with Sharks Forces beneficiary Ian. Ian supports Sharks Forces through leading Art Therapy workshops for other veterans

 

 

Vicky Irwin, Community Manager said,

We’re incredibly grateful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for their support with this exciting and much needed project. It is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a project that will provide activities to combat the many negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

After conversations with Sale FC Rugby Chairman Dr Scott Bambrick, it is exciting to launch our first ever hub from the Sale FC Training Complex. The use of the facility will allow us to deliver activities to help to combat many issues faced in the community such as loneliness, isolation, poor physical activities levels and poor mental health, which are vital given the year we have had. This hub will have a positive impact on the lives of those involved and we’re excited to get it underway.

 

 

Mental Wellbeing Officer, Eddie Owen serving refreshments at the new Veteran Hub at Sale FC Training Ground

 

Scott Bambrick added

Being an Armed Forces Veteran I fully appreciate the importance and benefits of the excellent work that Sharks Community Trust are doing with our veterans. The Club Executive did not hesitate in offering up our new club house facilities as a hub. We will continue to work with Vicky and the team to do whatever we can to ensure that this is a successful hub. We will also be inviting all the veterans that use the hub along to a Sale FC Rugby, for a home game as our guest’s next season.

 

 

For more information on the project email community@salesharks.com or to find out more about the work of the Sharks Community Trust, visit www.salesharks.com/community.

 

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