Veterans charity Erskine has announced that The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has donated £19,155 towards the work of their Activities Centre in Bishopton during COVID-19.
Due to COVID-19, the Erskine Reid Macewen Activities Centre has closed temporarily however, they have adapted this service to provide vital remote support for socially isolated Veterans.
The staff are maintaining regular one-to-one phone contact with over 100 Centre members, prioritising those who are most vulnerable and referring those who need practical support from partner organisations. Erskine are holding regular group video calls which allow their members to stay in touch and enjoy their usual social engagement.
The centres therapist is providing remote mindfulness sessions and the IT tutor is available to help Veterans stay connected thought the members’ newsletter which is continuing to be published.
Erskine Activities Centre Manager, Debs Dickson, said: “We are very grateful to The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for this generous donation. Since opening in January 2018, our Activities Centre has grown from a pilot project for fifteen Veterans into a thriving supportive community of 170 members, all of different ages and backgrounds.
“Many of the challenges that our Veterans face have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Our members may be finding social isolation extremely challenging and some members who are usually very independent are having to self-isolate due to health issues.
“This grant will enable Erskine to sustain our service remotely and deliver support, social contact and practical assistance to our Veterans during this challenging time.”
The grant was awarded through the Trust’s Veterans Should Not Be Forgotten Programme.
Erskine, added: “Erskine would like to sincerely thank The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for this grant and for their generous long-term support of our charity.
“The Trust supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK.”
For more information on The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, visit http://www.covenantfund.org.uk.
