Knowsley Veterans Hub at Care Merseyside


Care Merseyside are delighted to host The Knowsley Veteran’s Hub for a new weekly gathering at Tower Hill Community Centre.

Supported by Everton in the Community and funded by The British Legion, The Knowsley Veteran’s Hub meets every Tuesday from 10am to midday in the community hall in the centre.

Funded by the Royal British Legion, Knowsley Veterans’ Hub (KVH) aims to engage ex-service personnel who are at risk of isolation with sport, training and social activities.

Once ex-service personnel (EPS) return home they can often struggle to readjust and the stress of making the transition from such a structured, highly disciplined lifestyle to civilian life can lead to a myriad of interlinked problems.

The programme will build on the success of Everton In the Community’s award-winning ‘Inside Right’ project and will offer a range of engagement tools, support mechanisms and evidence-based behavioural change methods to improve the lives of veterans and their families.

As well as directly supporting veterans, the programme also stands to benefit the local community with the participants improving their skills, finding employment, avoiding potential anti-social behaviour and reducing their likelihood of ill health.

If you are a veteran or someone in your family is a veteran they may benefit from this informal gathering of like minded individuals who meet each week.

Led by former veteran Dave Curtis from Everton in the Community, the Knowsley Veteran’s Hub is a two hour informal chat between those who have served in the forces. Special guests attend the sessions and the group discuss activities that can occur at future meet ups.

The Knowsley Veteran’s Hub has three main objectives;

  • To reduce social isolation
  • To support veterans in prison
  • To improve lifestyle behaviour

Connecting with other veterans can have positive benefits for health and well-being. Being in a safe, confidential and supportive environment with others who understand the challenges faced by veterans has a positive effect on those who drop in.

Friendships are formed, challenges are discussed, many cups of tea or coffee are consumed (along with the odd croissant or toast) and everyone connects.

Veteran Mick said; “I like meeting likeminded people. It’s somewhere to come and have a chat and it gets me out of the house.”

Dave Curtis who leads the Knowsley Veterans Hub

If you’d like to learn more about the Knowsley Veteran’s Hub, pop down any Tuesday to the Tower Hill Community Centre at 10am or contact Dave Curtis at Everton in the Community 0151 530 5253 david.curtis@evertonfc.com

You can also view more here: http://www.evertonfc.com/community/health-and-wellbeing/the-projects/knowsley-veterans-hub