The housing association awarded a £2,000 community investment grant to East Durham Veterans Trust, based at the Glebe Centre in Murton, to support its social inclusion project.
The funding is helping the charity provide equipment and resources for a range of free activities, including allotment sessions, arts and crafts, model making, and photography.
The programme gives veterans and their families the chance to meet other people, learn new skills and build confidence.
It also helps them to access East Durham Veterans Trust’s wider support, including talking therapy, counselling, and practical help with benefits, money, and housing.
Its weekly programme includes walking groups, coffee mornings, creative sessions, family activities, and a free community meal during its Funday Friday group.
Simon Whitaker, Assistant Director of Strategy and Insight at believe housing, himself an army veteran, said: “East Durham Veterans Trust is doing incredible work supporting veterans, their families, and the wider community.
“Providing this funding is important to us for two reasons. As a proud recipient of the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, we are committed to supporting the military community – from colleagues to customers.
“We are also committed to enabling organisations like this to deliver services and activities that improve physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen community connections, and ensure people can access the support they need.”
Charity founder and Chief Executive, Andrew Cammiss, said when veterans leave the services, they can lose social and support networks.
“By putting social inclusion groups on, they can come in and enjoy it with like-minded people who’ve got the same sense of humour and had the same experiences as them, at the same time.
“We’ve had people come in who have never done a craft model before, never been to an allotment, or never touched a camera and they’re learning new skills as they go.
“So, it’s massively important what we’re doing for the veteran community here,” he said.
“believe housing’s support has been essential to continue the groups.”
For more information about the charity visit www.eastdurhamveterans.co.uk
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