A new hub providing help for 'Healthier Heroes' has opened in Morecambe as the town continues to lead the way in support for Armed Forces veterans.
The Healthier Heroes centre in the West End provides housing, mental health and wellbeing support to the veteran community.
The Saxton Centre hub at 1 Alexandra Road will hold an open day on Wednesday May 14 from 10am to 4pm for people to drop in and find out more about their services.
Ex-military man Andrew Powell set up Healthier Heroes, beginning with a centre in Burnley before deciding to expand into Morecambe.
The Community Interest Company (CIC) now supports 312 veterans and/or their family members across the North West, helping them with housing, welfare benefits, unemployment and education.
LISTEN to Andy Powell and Craig Harrison talking about Healthier Heroes
"I myself have been through difficulties in my time - after leaving the military after 16 years - through addiction and mental health," said Andrew.
"When I reached out for help and support, it wasn't there, so Healthier Heroes was formed in 2018 to support veterans and family members to make sure they aren't disadvantaged in any way.
"We've been open in Burnley since 2020, and ever since then our demand has grown and grown and grown.
"We were always working with veterans and family members from around Morecambe and Lancaster, even into the Cumbria area, so it provided us with an opportunity to ensure that we could offer a place-based working offer for our staff and a safe environment for veterans and their families to come into, in the West End of Morecambe."
The Healthier Heroes hub is open for veterans to walk in through the door, ask for help and support, and also works on a referral basis.
Craig Harrison from Lancashire Adult Learning, also a Forces veteran, said they will be supporting Healthier Heroes by offering courses, and will be opening a classroom at Healthier Heroes to offer everything from numeracy, literacy and health and safety, and social care classes.
He said the Morecambe area is "leading the way" to support Armed Forces veterans, with other projects such as Morecambe FC Community Foundation's veterans project and the Bay Veterans Association.
Lancashire Adult Learning will be at the drop-in day on May 14 where you can find out about the range of free courses available.
This is open to the whole community and ideal for people looking to start a new career path, expand your knowledge, or simply learn something new.
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