The Bristol Veterans' Hub, held on the last Thursday of every month at Bedminster Cricket Club, celebrated its one-year anniversary this July. The hub is a 'one-stop-shop' for veterans, no matter their length of service, to access support from a range of charities and healthcare partners, cutting back on red tape and enabling them to access quick support.

Avon and Somerset Mental Health Partnership have prepared a press statement which can be read here.

Likewise Help for Heroes have released a statement which can be read below:

A hub providing mental health and wellbeing support to local veterans celebrates its first birthday at Bedminster Cricket Club.

The Bristol hub is part The Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans Mental Health Service who’s primary provider Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is working in collaboration with Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust, Combat Stress, Walking With The Wounded, Mental Health Matters and Togetherall.

The hub is for veterans to come along and meet other veterans, and access support for employment, health and mental wellbeing. Attendance has been growing every month, with just under 40 people attending the anniversary celebrations on Thursday.

The Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans Mental Health Service can support anyone who has served in the UK Armed Forces community regardless of length of time served, rank or reason for leaving. We cover the areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Cornwall and The Isles Of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset.

Catherine Aitken, AWP Service Manager for the South West Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service said: “Our holistic approach means there is a range of support on offer at the hub including, employment, housing and mental health and wellbeing support. It is also a chance to meet people and learn new skills. We must take this opportunity to thank Bedminster Cricket club for their continued support.

Bristol City Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Integrated Care System, Councillor Helen Holland said: “Bristol has a growing number of military veterans who have made the city their home since leaving the Armed Forces. The Veterans Hub offers a real opportunity to bring this community together, to make connections and get the support that they really need and deserve. I’d like to say a big thank you to the many organisations and charities that work tirelessly to support our veterans and who have made the hub a reality.”

Bristol Veterans Hub meets on the last Thursday of each month from 10am to 3pm at Bedminster Cricket Club (BS3 2JX). The next meeting will be on Thursday 31 August. Everyone is welcome and no booking is required.