“for veterans by veterans”
our vision
“Wouldn’t life be so much simpler if all our Veteran groups utilised the services of a single venue solely and exclusively provided for such purposes?”
There are many individual Veteran groups within Inverclyde with various meeting places throughout. At IVN, our long-term objective is to obtain a meeting place (or HUB) to allow coordination of the various groups by providing a ‘control centre’ from where they could all operate and meet; and for such a venue to operate, in some capacity or other, 24/7.
A Veterans Hub is a specialised form of a Drop-In service for Veterans and their families in their communities. It should be a warm & welcoming venue that, in addition to the expected support of comradeship and a brew, provides a safe and secure
environment for Veterans to release their emotions without judgement or prejudice. Ideally, it would also provide the necessary support for welfare, wellbeing, mental health and even on-site assessments as mental trauma such as PTSD does not just manifest itself on a 9-5 basis.
The Hub would showcase the continued value of the highly skilled Veteran community as the values and standards instilled in them would be available to the community at large. That is, Veterans don’t just help themselves but are there to selflessly help any person in need. Many Veterans find that having a purpose helps them integrate and many can be found volunteering with local cadet forces, Scouts and other youth organisations. They can also be found supporting local hospices, driving for community care groups and befriending the elderly or those with disabilities.
“17 years after leaving the Military (I served for 25 years from aged 15) I was still finding it difficult to settle in a civilian role and I wanted to destroy anything or anyone who got in my way. I had PTSD and my marriage was suffering as a result. I began to volunteer with various organisations that helped fellow Veterans with similar circumstances and I noticed the feeling of being useful as I was helping others who still had their issues to deal with. I joined IVN to assist comrades and to steer them through the minefield they find themselves in, and help them onto a pathway of encouragement and achievement. There is no better feeling than helping someone achieve their goal apart from when they realise it is of their own doing and that you merely guided them.”
— George, ex-Royal Artillery
our values
The value to others, of what we hope to do at IVN should never be underestimated as our Team will ensure that our Veterans and their families receive the very best support. The ‘one stop shop’ approach we will adopt will create a consistent and robust support base for Veterans in need in Inverclyde and will ensure they are put in touch with the correct professional body to support their issue whether it be housing, benefits, employment, mental health or social isolation.
