The CUCF Veterans Project will support older veterans in Colchester to come together to take part in sport and physical & social activities.
Colchester United Community Foundation (CUCF) are launching a brand-new veterans project that is starting on Wednesday 17th April between 10am-12pm at Shrub End Community & Sports Centre (CO2 9BG). The session will be delivered weekly and encourage veterans to be more physically active through engaging in sport and physical activity of their choosing. The session is open to anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces and is completely free to attend.
The project is aimed at veterans over 55 years of age, although CUCF are happy to support any veterans who want to get involved. The project will build on, and add value, to the existing support system in place for veterans in Colchester, utilising CUCF’s long-standing relationships and partnerships with various elements of the armed forces to create awareness for the project and ensure those most in need of support are able to gain access.
CUCF have been awarded £13,440 by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund to run this project for 48 sessions between April 2024 and March 2025. The Armed Forces Covenant Fund award grants to projects that will support the Armed Forces community. In 2022-2023, they awarded £14M+ in funding to support community projects to support armed forces, veterans and their families.
Ed King, who is the Head of Health and Inclusion at CUCF, is delighted to see the foundation supporting veterans due to Colchester’s history as a military city.
He said: “We are very thankful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund for supplying us with the funding to be able to deliver this exciting programme. We hope that this programme can support veterans with their mental and physical health by using the engagement strength of Colchester United Football Club in and around the communities of Colchester to reach out to older veterans and support them to take part in regular activities to reduce loneliness and social isolation”.
If you are interested in attending the Veterans Project or want to find out further information you can contact Ed via email at edward.king@colchesterunited.net
