Foundation launch full agenda of support for local veterans.

AFC Fylde Community Foundation are delighted to announce that they have now launched a full agenda of support for veterans living within Fylde. 

Backed by the Veterans Foundation, the charitable arm of AFC Fylde football club is delivering three different strands of support for local veterans. These include weekly football sessions and participation in a league; mentoring and employment support and workshops; and a weekly veterans cafe based at Mill Farm. 

The first programme to get up and running in the newly launched veteran campaign is a recently established Veterans Football League. This operates on a weekly basis and uses the power of football to encourage participants to lead an active, healthier lifestyle as well as meet new people in a friendly, supportive environment.

This was quickly followed by the introduction of unique mentoring sessions aimed specifically at veterans. Through dedicated one-to-one support, the Foundation is helping individuals to improve their confidence, integrate into training or education opportunities and better adapt to a new way of life after service.

Now the Foundation is set to build on the success of helping ex-army personnel feel more engaged and involved in the local community with the launch of a new veteran’s café.

Backed by the Veterans Foundation and based at Fylde Sports and Education Centre at Mill Farm – the home of AFC Fylde – the café will be open every Friday between 10am – 12pm and provide a safe and welcoming retreat for veterans to get together with like-minded people and share any challenges they may be facing.

Foundation Physical Activity Officer and Army veteran Lee Geraghty understands on a personal level the value of these targeted programmes.

He said: “I’m delighted the organisation can play such an important role in helping so many veterans feel more integrated in the local community. It’s something I’m extremely happy to be a part of.

“The support from the Veterans Foundation is invaluable and without it, AFC Fylde Community Foundation would simply not be able to run these programmes for local people, completely free of charge. 

“It’s a partnership I take great pride in and I’m extremely confident that the veteran programmes will continue to be a huge success moving forward.”

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