Armed Forces - Community and relationships

Breakfast Clubs exist simply to facilitate veterans and service personnel meeting face-to-face in a relaxed, safe, social environment. There are currently six Armed Forces and Veterans' Breakfast Clubs in the East Riding:

• Beverley - The Angel Inn, Butchers Row, HU17 0AA
• Bridlington - Richie's Cafe Bar, Princess Mary Promenade, YO15 3LG
• Driffield - Mishka Pub, 5 Riverhead, YO25 6NX
• Hornsea - Thyme and Tide Restaurant, 26 Newbegin, HU18 1AD
• Market Weighton - The Griffin, High Street, YO43 3AW
• Pocklington - Feathers Hotel, 56 Market Place, YO42 2AH
• Withernsea - The Shores Centre, 29-31 Withernsea Road, HU19 2DL.

Find out more on the Armed Forces and Veterans' Breakfast Clubs website.

AWS is the Army's professional welfare provider. It delivers a comprehensive and confidential welfare service responsive to the needs of individuals, families and the Chain of Command in order to maximise the operation effectiveness of service personnel. This includes personal support such as:

• domestic abuse
• child and adult safeguarding
• bereavement
• relationship difficulties
• stress and anxiety management
• emotional wellbeing
• signposting.

It also provides community support which includes learning and personal development opportunities for military personnel and their families wherever they are living. It offers non-formal education opportunities to children and young people including activities during school holidays and offsite residential experiences.

The local AWS office is based in York and provides support to the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield.

Find out more on the Army Welfare Service website, call (01904) 882053 or email RC-AWS-IAT-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

To find out more about the local youth services provided by the AWS at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, call (01964) 561743.

This club meets every Monday 10am-12pm (Richie's Café, South Promenade) and every Thursday 10am-12pm (Victoria Mill Tea Rooms). It is open to veterans, serving members and their families, and dogs are welcome at both venues. There are no fees - just buy your own drinks and food.

For more information, email Mike Rubery at rnabrid@gmail.com or call 07722 362949.

The Ministry of Defence sponsors and supports four cadet forces. These voluntary youth organisations offer challenging and enjoyable activities for young people, and prepare them to play an active part in the community while developing valuable life skills.

Find out how to become a cadet on the following websites:

• Sea Cadets
• Army Cadets
• Royal Air Force Air Cadets
• Combined Cadet Force

The Community Welfare Forum, run by the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield, brings together military and civilian staff and families with the aim of helping to build relationships, organise events, and seek out funding streams to support the community.

Find out more by emailing leconfieldhive@armymail.mod.uk or call (01904) 665253/07971 890523.

East Riding Libraries run a range of events for all ages.

Find out more on the East Riding Libraries website.

ERVAS provide a wide range of support activities to the voluntary and community sector and communities across the East Riding including:

• Development support to set up new groups and activities in your area, as well as all the practical support you need to run this (accountancy, funding, policy development etc)
• Volunteen - a service for young people aged 10 to 25 to get them involved in volunteering and social action. This can enhance skills, build confidence, along with many other benefits, whilst helping their community and local charities
• ERVAS Virtual Youth Hub - providing young people with a space to connect with other young people, as well as offering information to parents and carers and those working with young people
• ERVAS Virtual Scams Hub - providing information and support on to keep you safe from becoming the victim of a scam
• East Riding Volunteer Centre - supporting you to find voluntary placements with local charitable organisations
• Boost Training - providing training opportunities for young people and adults across a range of subjects

Find out more on the ERVAS website or email office@ervas.org.uk.

MASH welcomes all veterans, serving personnel and their families. It meets every Tuesday 1.30 - 4.30pm at Bridlington Town Football Club, Queensgate, Bridlington, YO16 7LN. For more information, call 07929 773575.

Men's Sheds are similar to garden sheds - a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men's Sheds are the opposite.

They're about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter.

Learn more about the scheme and find your nearest shed on the UK Men's Sheds Association website.

The Royal Air Forces Association branches provide a great opportunity for members to meet socially on a monthly basis, as well as providing welfare assistance and helping to rally local fundraising support. There are local branches in Bridlington and Hull.

You can find more information on the Royal Air Forces Association website.

This association is for former members of the Royal Naval Service and supporters. Join one of the UK or overseas branches for access to welfare advice, socials or simply for a quiet drink and chat with members of the Naval family.

Find out more on the Royal Naval Association website, including how to contact the local branches in Bridlington and Hull.

This association aims to foster a spirit of comradeship and service and also provides financial and other assistance to serving and former members of the corps, their spouses, widows and dependents who are in need.

You can contact the local branch in Bridlington and find out more on the Royal Engineers Association website.

This association of ex and serving submariners seeks to maintain the special bonds of friendship, loyalty and comradeship.

You can contact the local branch in Bridlington and find out more on the Submariners Association website.

This association fosters comradeship and the general welfare of the regiment. It also makes recommendations to the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolence Committee, in order to provide relief, for members of the association, and to past and present members of the regiment and their dependents, who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.

You can contact the local branch in Bridlington and find out more on the Yorkshire Regiment Association website.

This club, run by veterans for veterans of the Armed Forces and emergency services has informal workshops to help you develop your skills in making models from kits or 'scratch-built' from plastic, card or wood. It doesn't matter if you've never modelled before or are a modeller. Any veteran is welcome and there is no need to book.

Find more information on the Joy of Sprue website.

Children and young people can take part in a range of youth club sessions at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield. The Army Welfare Service runs school holiday programmes, residentials and a monthly forest school.

To find out more about the local youth services provided by the AWS at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, call (01964) 561743 or (01964) 561746.

If you can give up one or two evenings a week and want to do something different with your free time, why not consider becoming a cadet force adult volunteer? Email YH-info@rfca.mod.uk for information.

The Community Safety Volunteer scheme is run by Humberside Police in partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. Volunteers can get involved in a wide range of tasks in their local community.

Find more information on the Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service websites.

Special Constables are members of the public who volunteer their time in order to support their regular colleagues and provide a valuable link between the police and the local community. They are warranted officers who have the same powers as a regular officer, wear the same uniform and carry the same equipment.

Find more information on the Humberside Police website.

There is a volunteering programme available at both Castle Hill and Hull Royal hospitals for anyone aged 16-85. Applications forms can be found on the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust website. Anyone interested can contact Rachael Hardcastle-Pearce for a discussion on (01482) 623089.

In addition to providing support to the voluntary and community sector, ERVAS enables individuals to volunteer in their community.

ERVAS operates the East Riding Volunteer Centre to support you to access funding opportunities with a wide range of charitable organisations.

Find out more about the opportunities available on the Do It website.

ERVAS also provide a range of support to young people who want to get involved in volunteering and social action projects across East Riding of Yorkshire. If a child is already volunteering we can talk to their placement provider to enable the young person to become accredited for their volunteering activity.

Find out more on the ERVAS Young People website or email office@ervas.org.uk.

If you are interested in setting up your own community group, social enterprise or charity, HEY Smile Foundation can provide you with the support and advice on how to do this. They can help with fundraising plans, volunteer management, governance and much more.

Find more information on the HEY Smile Foundation website.

If you would like to source funding for your project, register with the community funding support website 'East Riding 4 Community' to access details of grants, loans and other forms of financial assistance.

Volunteering opportunities are available locally with SSAFA - you'll have the chance to meet some truly inspiring people, with stories you'll never forget. You'll also gain new skills and experiences, but most importantly, you'll make a difference in the lives of those who have dedicated themselves, often at great sacrifice, to protect and serve our country.

Find out about opportunities to volunteer locally on the SSAFA website.

There are many ways to get involved and you don't need to be a member or have any links to the Armed Forces to volunteer with us.

Find out about opportunities to volunteer locally on The Royal British Legion website.

Find out about volunteering opportunities available in the East Riding on the Do It website.

Age UK Hull provide a telephone befriending service, which aims to reduce loneliness for people aged 50 or over, by providing a regular telephone call at a time which is convenient to the person.

The call allows the person to enjoy general conversation on subjects that interest them.

Find out more on the Age UK website (Hull area) or call (01482) 324644.

Social prescribing is about linking residents with local community groups and services that offer support and advice to them, improving self-care and tackling the social causes of ill health and wellbeing.

Link workers are based in all East Riding GPs and offer social prescribing to local residents. They can support you to get involved in social activities, making new friends, and tell you about exercise classes available to help improve your mental and physical wellbeing.

To contact a local link worker or make an appointment, you can:

• call in to your GP
• call free on 0800 917 7752 or
• email hnf-tr.socialprescribing@nhs.net.

Further information is available on the East Riding Health and Wellbeing website.

SSAFA provides lifelong support to both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has completed National Service.

SSAFA helps the Armed Forces community in a number of ways, though its focus is on providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care, including those struggling with social isolation.

Find out more on the SSAFA website or call Forcesline, a free and confidential helpline on 0800 731 4880.

The Royal British Legion supports members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. Their support starts after one day of service and continues through life. The Legion provides a wide range of advice and support including for those struggling with social isolation.

Find out more on the Royal British Legion website or call 0808 802 8080 (8am - 8pm, 7-days-a-week).

Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. There are many ways for people, communities and organisations to show their support and get involved.

The national Armed Forces Day takes place each year on the last Saturday in June. In 2021, it will take place on 26 June. Armed Forces Day celebrations begin in the week leading up to this date, when the Armed Forces Day flag is raised on buildings and famous landmarks around the country.

Events around the country take place up to two weeks before and after the national one.

Find out about Armed Forces Day events near you on the Armed Forces Day website.

Information on funding available to support your Armed Forces Day event is also available on the Armed Forces Day website.

Each year we remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community, both individually and by joining others at Remembrance commemorations.

Find more information on Remembrance and ideas about how to recognise it on the British Legion website.

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the reserve forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.

The reserve forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel and as such are integral to protecting the nation's security at home and overseas. The annual Reserves Day was created to highlight and recognise the valuable contribution reservists make to our Armed Forces.

Find out more on the Armed Forces Day website.