FALKLANDS veteranDarren Horsnell, whodiscovered art was betterthan medication, hasopened an arts and craftsshop in Rawtenstall forVIC.

Arts and Crafts Co-ordina-tor Darren discovered thetherapeutic properties of artwhile he was recuperating atCombat Stress after servingin the Falklands Conflict.

He has been running artclasses at VIC Centre inBury Road and also, throughthe Creative CommunityHub, at Jubilee Court inHaslingden. Severalresidents from Jubilee Courtattended the shop’sopening.

Darren said: “This allstems from when I first start-ed art therapy and I realisedwhat art can do for you andhow much therapy you can

get out of it.“It took me two years

before I went along to arttherapy and then when I didI couldn’t believe how itaffected me.

“I would open up while Iwas painting and I started totalk about my experiencesthrough my art, not verbal.

“Then I started gettingpeople coming to me askingme for advice and it gave mea buzz. It is better than anymedication.”

Darren, along with volun-teers from the arts and craftsgroup at VIC, will be man-ning the shop. It is alsoplanned to run workshops inthe future.

The shop was officiallyopened by the Mayor of

Rossendale CouncillorMarilyn Procter who said: “Ithink it is splendid. The artwork for sale is of a really,really high quality. The timeand effort people have put inhere is fantastic.”

The shop will be openThursdays to Saturdays 9am

to 5pm and on Sundays from10am to 2pm and stocks awide range of arts and craftsitems.

The shop is a partnershipbetween VIC andRossendale charity PositiveStart which owns thebuilding in Bury Road.

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www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale info@veteransincommunities.org

Art shop opens

Outdoor activities on trackTHREE weeks of graft saw VIC membershelping Al Shingler from Alternate Forcesto transform the old Sea Cadets buildingat Hollingworth Lake, Littleborough.

Alternate Forces has recently beenawarded some MoD funding and VICmembers have been helping to get thebuilding ready for opening.

VIC is planning to work closely withAlternate Forces for some of our outdooractivities over the summer including:kayaking, bushcraft, mountain bike ridingand navigation courses.

1940s weekendAWARENESS ofthe work of VICwas raised whenwe held a two-day informationstand as part ofa 1940s weekendon the EastLancashireRailway.

Our stand wasbased in Rams-bottom and manypeople stopped byto find out moreabout our work.

ROSSENDALE MP JakeBerry called in to thecentre to carry out the legalwork on the lease for thePositive Start building inRawtenstall where ourPositive Art shop has justbeen opened.

www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale info@veteransincommunities.org

Crew Van’sCapers

WHERE has Crew Vanbeen this month…? It transported VIC

members to the poignantceremony at RossendaleSchool to remember thefallen from two WorldWars; Crew Van was used

to take veterans toSaddleworth for the walknear DovestonesReservoir; Members of VIC’s

Singing Group were ableto attend a sing-a-long-a-shop at Tesco thanks toCrew Van and it alsotransported them toEdenfield Fete; Crew Van has been

invaluable for collectingitems that will be sold inour new art shop inRawtenstall; We used the Crew

Van to travel to Barrow forthe social inclusion trip toPendle View Fisheries; Our display stand at

the East LancashireRailway’s 1940s weekendwas transported to thevenue in Ramsbottom viaCrew Van.

Crew Van is soon to befitted with a side awningso in future we will be ableto use the van as a dis-play stand.

Give us a wave if yousee Crew Van in yourarea.

VIC ChairmanRonnie Barkerreceived his MBEfrom Prince Williamin a prestigiousceremony atBuckinghamPalace.

Ronnie was namedin the Queen’s NewYear’s Honours Listfor his services to thecommunity.

Ronnie said: “It wasa great honour and agreat shock when Iwas notified of theaward and beinginvited to visit Londonto receive the awardfrom Prince Williamwas an amazingexperience not just forme but also for mywife Carole and sonSimon.

“Unfortunately, ourdaughter Sanchiacould not get time offin Florence to take upher invitation to thepalace.

“It was a once in alifetime experiencethat can never besurpassed.

“I am truly humbledin the knowledge thatthe people ofRossendale felt meworthy of such anhonour.”

Royal appointment for Ronnie

School’s tribute to fallenVIC members were among specialguests of Rossendale School in TurnVillage at a service of dedication andthanksgiving for the men and womenof Rossendale who gave their livesduring the First and Second WorldWars.

The Rev Hugh Bearn, Chaplain to theQueen, conducted the service and formerRossendale MP Sir David Trippier wasguest speaker.Other guests included Jake Berry,Rossendale and Darwen MP, the Mayorsof Rossendale and Bolton, schoolgovernors, staff and pupils fromRossendale School.

A memorial Stone was laid in thegrounds.

The pupils hadresearched twolocal brothers whodied during the FirstWorld War and thiswas the inspirationthat led to thetribute.

Singersdelightshoppersand fetevisitors

SINGING while you shop wasintroduced to Tesco Haslingdenwhen the VIC Singing Groupprovided the entertainment.

The group’s efforts were richlyrewarded when nearly £380 was raisedfor VIC.

Edenfield Fete was also a venue formore singing and the group will besinging as part of Armed Forces Daycelebrations at Asda in Rawtenstall onSaturday June 27.

The day after, they will be on stageat Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival inStubbylee and Moorlands Parks.

THE War Graves 100project should be com-pleted by the end of themonth as the final stoneshave been engraved andare ready to be installedin Bacup Cemetery.

The project was madepossible by studying thebook ‘Where HeroesRest’ written by localhistorian Wendy Lord.

VIC members have

worked with members ofthe Prince’s Trust to helplay nearly 120 First WorldWar veterans’ graves andmemorials.

www.veteransincommunities.org Twitter @VICRossendale info@veteransincommunities.org

ADVICE on how to use a camera betterwas handed out by photographer LizHenson.

The professional photographer fromStacksteads who exhibited in America whilecompleting her degree, offered to share herknowledge.

She explained how to take control of thepictures the veterans take by learning how tomanually set up their camera rather thatautomatically go for the built-in settings.

VIC member John Edwards, who took thispicture of Liz receiving thank you flowers fromarts and crafts co-ordinator Darren Horsnell,said: “It was been extremely useful and I foundout things about my camera that I didn’t knowexisted.

“I will be more confident to takephotographs without just using the automaticbutton.”

The workshop was organised by VIC’sCreative Community Hub.

Since then, outreach worker SteveButterworth has invested in a new camera andmusic project co-ordinator Peter Webster hasnot stopped taking photos.

A COMBINED fishing, walking and barbecue day was held at Pendle ViewFisheries in Barrow.

Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator DarrenHorsnell said: “The Creative Community Hubput on the social inclusion trip and we weredelighted to report that the fish were bitingand the BBQ went down a treat.

“Thanks to everyone who came along andmade it a great day – Tony even caught thedish of the day.”

OUR back yard willsoon be ‘blooming’lovely thanks to thehard work of veteransand the generosity of anumber of groups.

We secured nearly£10,000 from Burnley,Pendle and RossendaleCouncil for VoluntaryService, which adminis-ters the SocialPrescribing Grant for theEast Lancashire ClinicalCommissioning Group.

That money was usedto develop the rear yardinto an area to plant andgrow crops and flowerswith a workshop whereveterans can learn newskills and create gardenitems to sell.

Manager Bob Elliottsaid: “We have had adonation from EdgesideBaptist Church of plants,shrubs and vegetablesand we have also had alot of help from fellow

veterans’ charity Dig InNorth West.

“We have created amemorial at the rear ofthe building, which wehave planted out andwhen the flowers bloom itwill spell out VIC.

“We also have fruit,veg and herbs growingand it would be nice for usto have a celebrationevent to say thank you toeveryone who hasdonated and helped.”

Tips for top pics

Garden’scomingup roses

SINCE the lastnewsletter, ourWalking Group hasbeen on a trip upIndian’s Head aboveDovestonesReservoir inSaddleworth and agentler walk aroundHaslingden’s reser-voirs with membersof the Prince’s Trust.

Lest we forget

Social inclusion trip to fisheries

Outreach ServicesMONDAY-FRIDAY11am-1pmVIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden,BB4 5PL.WEDNESDAY

10-12 noonCentral Methodist Church, Burnley Road,Bacup, OL13 9AH.

Singing GroupTHURSDAY6.30-8.30pmVIC Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, BB4 5PL.

Art Group and drop-inFRIDAY11am-3pm VIC Centre, Bury Road,Haslingden,BB4 5PL.

Walking GroupWalks will be held on the 2nd and 4thThursdays. Weather permitting.

VIC News is produced by: Catherine Smyth Media. 01706 877150/ 07903 997375 www.catherinesmyth.co.uk

www.facebook.comVIC Veterans In Communities

What’s On and Where

Supported by NHS Heywood, Middletonand Rochdale Clinical Commissioning

Group's social investment fund

Outreach Service

TUESDAY10am-noonRailway Street Community Centre,Railway Street, Nelson, BB9 9EH.

Outreach ServiceWEDNESDAY - second, third and fourthweeks only10.30am-12.30pmFast Forward Cafe, Champness Hall,Drake Street, Rochdale OL16 1PB.WEDNESDAY - every week11.30am-1.30

Lighthouse Project, Warwick Mill,Middleton M24 1AZ

Walking GroupWalks will be held on the 2nd and 4thThursdays and are combined with theRossendale walking group.

HEYWOOD, MIDDLETON AND ROCHDALE

PENDLE

ROSSENDALE

Combat Stress Helpline0800 138 1619

NHS Military Veterans PsychologicalTherapies Service (NW)0161 253 6638

The Royal British Legion0808 802 8080 (7 days a week 8am-8pm)

Rossendale Citizens’ Advice Bureau0844 499 4121 (from a landline)0300 456 2552 (from a mobile)

The Samaritans01706 830999

Mental Health Helpline0500 639000 Mon to Fri 7pm - 11pm Sat& Sun 12 noon to 12 midnight

Royal Air Forces Association01772 426930

East Lancashire Single Point ofAccess via GP or self-referral01282 657116

VIC – 01706 833180Office and Business Development ManagerRoger Chaney07800 817 941rogerchaney@veteransincommunities.org

Operations Manager Bob Elliott bobelliott@veteransincommunities.org07961 554 006

Outreach Worker Steve Butterworthstevebutterworth@veteransincommunities.org

Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator Darren Horsnelldarrenhorsnell@veteransincommunities.org

Volunteer Outreach Worker and Music ProjectCo-ordinator: Peter Websterpeterwebster@veteransincommunities.org

VIC update...

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WE HAVE run out of space to tell you aboutall of the activities that we have been doingthis month, it has been so hectic.

Our own music projects officer PeterWebster was on BBC Radio Lancashirebeing interviewed about VIC.

Through our links with the Prince’s Trustwe have carried out a number of jointprojects and the youngsters have come ona number of our activities too.

We accompanied them at the installationand unveiling of a memorial stone inVictoria Park, Haslingden, to the memory ofSophie Lancaster. Full story and pictures inour July newsletter.

Later this month, to celebrate ArmedForces Week, VIC members will be at theflag raising ceremony at the War Memorialin Rawtenstall.

VIC is also arranging for a special ArmedForces flag to be flown at the War Memorialin Haslingden. Another flag will be flown onthe front of the VIC building at Bury Road,Haslingden.

We will be donning marshal jackets andhelping out with the Rossendale Hospicefancy dress walk around Rawtenstall onJune 19 and in August there will be a VICfun day in Haslingden.

VIC supported by:

East LancashireClinical Commissioning Group