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Dave Smith had a successful military career of almost 25 years, and struggled to adjust to civilian life. He was diagnosed with PTSD and later, dissociative disorders. Eventually, he tried to take his own life.

During his time in hospital, a police officer visited Dave. The police officer recognised Dave as a former colleague in the Army; he also knew Dave’s uncle. This stroke of good fortune brought Dave back to his family in Liverpool, and with his uncle’s help, he began his journey of recovery and rebuilding his life.

However, Dave found it difficult to navigate and secure the support he needed from existing statutory services. A breakthrough came when he managed to secure employment as a support worker with a local social care charity: ‘I felt good by doing good’.

After a number of years supporting veterans in the local community, Dave and the team that evolved around him realised that the services they provided to veterans, and the needs that these services helped to address, had grown to such

an extent that a separate organisation was needed, and in 2016, Veterans in Sefton (ViS) was established.

The charity, based in Bootle, Merseyside, supports veterans and their families in the local community with services and activities ranging from simple advice and social activities to counselling, housing and employment support.

A grant of £35,000 in 2021 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Positive Pathways programme provided crucial support to their Transition for Veterans project.

The grant has enabled ViS to employ a dedicated full time Project Manager, which has allowed the project to reach and engage with many more veterans than before, and to offer them an improved and enhanced experience.

Referrals to the project came from a wide range of organisations and agencies, including the Royal British Legion, Veterans UK, NHS, Liverpool Veterans HQ, NOVA Employment, One Vision Housing and the police and probation services, many of which have a Service Level Agreement with ViS, as well as from family and friends, social media and walk in self-referrals.

There are many individual examples of how the project has had a positive impact on its beneficiaries and been critical in helping to turn their lives around. One service user said, ‘see

all these people here, half of them wouldn’t be around if this place wasn’t here. It saves people’s lives’. Another user said, ‘I’ve been coming here a while now, they’ve really helped me out. I’m seeing my family again, my grandkids’.

The charity is now supporting hundreds of veterans and their families each year.

A major new event in Bootle later this month will put the spotlight on ‘green’ measures that can help to protect the local community and contribute towards saving the planet.

The Bootle Climate Action Festival will take place between 12 noon and 5pm on Thursday 14th July at Bootle Canalside, next to the Strand shopping centre, between Stanley Road and Washington Parade.
The event is being organised by Bootle-based social enterprise Regenerus and the Taking Root in Bootle community gardening network.

Funded by Linacre Ward elected members, the event is being sponsored by Liverpool John Moores University, The Printroom UK and Service Electrical Distributors Ltd, and is receiving extensive support from Southport Ecocentre.

Organisers say the festival will feature a series of talks and workshops, the opportunity to take part in an air quality interactive experience and the chance to get involved in a canal clean-up.

Free bike MOTs and repairs to encourage cycle use will also be on offer, as will a variety of free eco giveaways.

Meanwhile, exhibitions and displays from local organisations will focus on ‘green’ topics including how to recycle well, saving energy, healthy eating and cutting down food waste, growing your own food and shopping local, and walking and keeping fit.

Commenting on the festival Ruth Livesey from Regenerus, said: “This event will be a great opportunity for local people to find out what we can do in Bootle to help save our planet and protect our community for future generations.

“From clean air to reducing your carbon footprint, from the circular economy to buying local, we’ll have exhibitors on hand who will be able to provide expert information and advice on these and other key ‘green’ themes.

“We’re really excited about this event, and hoping for good weather and a very good turnout on the day,” added Ruth.

Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Cllr Marion Atkinson, commented: “Sefton Council have declared a climate emergency and a big part of our commitment is supporting grassroots activity like this.

“Climate change is a problem for all of us and small changes can have big, positive consequences. I hope this festival will encourage local people to consider their own impact on their environment and how they can support and encourage others to make a change too.

“I am delighted that Regenerus have chosen Bootle Canalside to host their climate festival. This is exactly the type of community event that we want this space to be used for and I know we will host many more community events as we move forward on our completed site later this year.”

“Following reports of a smell of gas in the area, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have been in attendance at Cambridge Road, Bootle.

“Staff and students from Cambridge Road Nursery and Bedford Primary has been evacuated as a precautionary measure so investigations can take place.

“All children and staff have been safely evacuated and parents have been notified, there have been no reports of ill-health as a result of this incident.

“Local residents are advised to close their windows and people should avoid the area until the situation can be resolved.