Local veterans celebrate Health for Heroes Award at VE Day Event
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure invited veterans for afternoon tea at Barrhead Foundry to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
Veterans were recently invited to an afternoon tea at Barrhead Foundry to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and efforts to support them in East Renfrewshire.
The special gathering saw East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure receive the Armed Forces' Covenant Employer Bronze Award, in recognition of its support for the armed forces community.
As part of this support, the leisure team developed the Health for Heroes scheme.
The initiative launched in 2019 as the first programme of its kind in Scotland, offering free fitness memberships to support local veterans in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council.
Veteran Kevin Potts was in the Royal Air Force as a photographic specialist for 22 years. His wife, Fiona, is also a veteran and they are Health for Heroes members.
Kevin told the Paisley Daily Express: 'The Health for Heroes initiative is important because there is very little support for veterans when they come out, whether they've served for a short period or had a longer period of service.
'They're left going from a massive family environment to very little, so any support outside is massive to them. It means a lot and makes them feel like they're still part of the veteran family.
'Getting like-minded people together who may have lost touch with the military family gives veterans an opportunity to tell their stories. Having the Health for Heroes environment allows them to pass information on and keep the rhetoric.'
James McEwan, from Barrhead, joined the army at the age of 18 and served in Germany and Northern Ireland.
The 70-year-old veteran, added: 'There are so many soldiers with so many needs when they come out of the army. I try to push the message that it's not weak to go to combat stress.
'It's not a 'manly' thing to stay away from it - get help if you're struggling with your mental health.
'It's always good if you can do physical exercise.
'I'm just getting back into the gym again and usually come down to use Barrhead Foundry's gym once or twice a week, when I can manage.'
Captain David Hanley, 102 Field Squadron's PSAO (Permanent Staff Administration Officer), presented the recognition award at the event, which was attended by veterans, local partners who support the armed forces community and local councillors, including council leader Owen O'Donnell and councillor and veterans champion Kate Campbell.
Councillor Campbell said: 'I'd like to congratulate East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure for achieving the bronze award.
'They have been undertaking fantastic work in supporting our local armed forces community, both internally with their employees and across East Renfrewshire.
'Having spoken with a number of veterans, it is clear that the Health For Heroes scheme has been a success and is making a real difference to the lives of local residents. I would encourage anyone from our armed forces community to get involved and see how it could help and support you.'
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's chief executive Anthony McReavy said: 'We are very proud to receive the Armed Forces' Employer Recognition Bronze Award and for our Health for Heroes programme, recognising the positive impact it has in supporting veterans in our community.'
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