Volunteer work a 'lifesaver' for veterans

Glyn Poolford, Barry Seymour and Christine Hawksworth have been benefiting from the sessions

A Lake District scheme offering social events in return for work is helping give veterans a sense of belonging.

The project sees veterans use their skills to complete maintenance tasks at YMCA Lakeside in Windemere.

In return, they can stay at the outdoor activity centre for free, gather with other veterans and focus on their wellbeing.

One woman assisted by the project said sharing "black humour" with people from a similar background has "helped my healing".

The monthly sessions are delivered by the Veterans Community Working Party (VCWP) with the help of £20,000 National Lottery funding.

Veteran Glyn Poolford said the scheme had proved a lifesaver for him.

Mr Poolford, who served in the military for 22 years and was referred by his probation worker, said: "Without them, I've said it numerous times, I wouldn't be here now. That is an absolute stonewall guarantee.

"I would've been under a train, under a river, anywhere.

"Coming up here, the peace, the tranquillity, being around the people that I'm working with now, we're all taking the mickey out of each other and nobody takes it seriously. It's fun, it's a good laugh."

Project manager Nicole Blair comes from a military family

The group's project manager Nicole Blair said the experience helped give veterans a sense of purpose.

Ms Blair, who is a soldier's daughter herself, said: "When they leave the military, there's an element of they lose a sense of belonging.

"This is an opportunity to come back together with like-minded people, do a bit of work, graft, and on an evening do a quiz, have some really good food, just relax and be around people that aren't going to judge."

Veterans use theirs skill to fix up YMCA Lakeside

Christine Hawksworth has also found comfort through the sessions.

She lost her job at the Women's Royal Army Corps after being outed as gay in the 1980s.

"The working party has helped continue my healing," Ms Hawksworth said.

"Some of them were serving at the same time as I was.

"We can talk in sort of shorthand and obviously there's black humour as well, which you can only share with somebody that understands what's behind the black humour.

"It is mutual understanding, we talk each other's language."

If you're affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations who can help via the BBC Action Line.