Trust supports local veteran, Norman

The Cost-of-Living Grant was set up to improve levels of hope for the future, increase self-worth, physical health and reduce mental health issues and feelings of loneliness.

The Trust set up several sessions such as the Walk and Talk, Online chat, Football, and others. These issues can cause poor mental health and ultimately shorten lives. Off the back of the COVID pandemic, it became apparent these issues had become significantly worse within the Wyre Borough particularly with those already suffering from issues of which the Armed Forces Community has a high threshold.

Norman Lancaster served his National Service as part of the Royal Signals. He served for 2 years in Malta between 1953 and 1955. On leaving service he went into a career in Sales with a confectionary company and then into furniture. He lives in Thornton and has done for several years. To say Norman is a man of experience would be doing him a huge disservice.

Norman was married and it was initially his wife who talked him into getting involved with the Royal Signals Association which turned out to be a great idea and opened Norman up to getting involved with other Armed Forces Community groups which led him to join in with ours.

As a widower at 88 years old Norman found he had a lot of spare time to fill and sometimes felt lonely after losing his wife. Some of his family live abroad which made him take action to try and meet new people and build relationships.

Norman heard about the activities run for the Armed Forces Community by Fleetwood Town Community Trust while attending a local Veterans breakfast. He initially came along to the Walk and Talk session on a Monday morning which is regularly attended by 20+ Veterans and began to feel the positive impact on both his physical and mental health as well as no longer feeling isolated and building new friendships.

Norman said “Since attending the Armed Forces Community Events run by the Community Trust, I have made many friends. During a recent visit to hospital the support I received from people in the group visiting me was both a huge help and proof that the events build real friendships where people care and look after one another no matter what part of the Armed Forces they served with. It’s great that my time is now busy with various events like the breakfasts and walks and it certainly helps to keep me sane. Having something to look forward to is a huge positive.”