Hidden Faces Project

Military Community Veterans Centre (MCVC) based in Rotherham is embarking on a new project called Hidden Faces. On the 25 June 21 they will be relaunching the MCVC in a bid to reunite many Veterans and to reach out to other Veterans and their dependants that have been self-isolating during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

In response to the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT) Tackling Loneliness Programme Rotherham MCVC submitted a proposal to deliver a two-year project, titled HIDDEN FACES, to address this across the Rotherham and South Yorkshire Region. Rotherham MCVC have delivered a drop in and regular events bringing Veterans together, developing camaraderie and friendships with likeminded individuals for their full 9 years existence. Extending this to a ‘Sign Posting’ activity that helps veterans who are struggling to transition from their service career or suffering hardship to ‘civi street’.

Loneliness has become a major cause for concern, being at the cusp of normality, we can look back on 15months where isolation has been enforced for the wellbeing of the general population, at the expense of those living alone. Service personnel on leaving a secure life become part of their chosen community quite quickly, however there are some who are new to an area or through personal problems find themselves alone, integration is extremely difficult and challenging and this inevitably leads to isolation and feelings of loneliness.

Across South Yorkshire the latest data suggests that there are 59,000 veterans with approximately 8,000 living in Rotherham. Estimates, based on these studies, provide a potential for 600 Veterans to fall into this ‘at risk’ group with a further 4,000 across the county. Rotherham MCVC has a growing connection with and supporting about 150 (2%) of these and has set a target of knowing 1,000 but being recognised by 3 times that number and widely known with a high profile across the region and population.

HIDDEN FACES PROJECT has a simple aim.

Help Veterans to help Veterans find a place to belong

There are two aspects with resolving this, first obstacle is the identification of vulnerable Veterans, lonely people rarely wear a placard shouting about their feelings.

The second is, when identified lonely Veterans struggle to engage with others, Rotherham MCVC will provide the opportunities to bring veterans together in friendly and welcoming settings, encouraging participation with no expectations.

Worldwide the military have an unwritten faithfulness to each other, fill a room with 100 servicemen or any service and any nation and very quickly there will be unprompted conversations and laughter coming from a group of strangers. Servicemen get on with other servicemen, a loyalty to each other seldom exists elsewhere.

Rotherham MCVC approach is to promote the aims widely, so everyone in the region, and further afield, knows of us and our goals and following up with events and activities to develop bonds and friendships with other attending veterans.

Rotherham MCVC is fortunate with its access to a liveried Van and Trailer promoting and publicising what it does, this will be deployed to all local areas, outside supermarkets, garden centres and in town centres. Highlighting our message, we are asking friends, family or just neighbours to refer someone that they worry for but care about but to Rotherham MCVC. The individual will be then from this referral be invited to all events and activities that are planned.

Ranging from, day trips to seaside for fish and chips, days out to local attractions, to online quizzes or simple chats and presentations. The priority is not the event, it is the shared memory it creates, the growing sense of belonging to a new but widening community and a potential desire to help others.

Rotherham MCVC see this project as a launch pad for future opportunities where, working with partner organisations, the service and support offered can be enhanced. Where service personnel know what is available and Rotherham MCVC is a route to a settled life in Rotherham following military service."