HIVE MINI-BUS GETS‘ VANTASTIC’ MAKE-OVER
RAF ASSOCIATION TACKLES LONELINESS WITH IT’ S BEFRIENDING SERVICE
HIVE MINI-BUS GETS‘ VANTASTIC’ MAKE-OVER
RAF ASSOCIATION TACKLES LONELINESS WITH IT’ S BEFRIENDING SERVICE
A minibus used by Wirral’ s purpose-built youth facility, The Hive, to transport young people to events, sport tournaments and residential visits has been given a makeover thanks to West Wallasey Car & Van Hire.
Commercial vehicle leasing specialist, West Wallasey Car & Van Hire is a Founder Patron of The Hive and along with a number of other local businesses, makes a significant contribution to the youth zone’ s annual running costs. Having supplied the minibus to The Hive last year, West Wallasey Car & Van Hire offered young people attending the youth zone the opportunity to spruce their van up by entering a livery design competition. Young people worked on their designs during art sessions at The Hive and, after a flood of entries was received, a winner and two runners-up were selected, with winning entrant 14-year-old Amy Simpson seeing her colourful design unveiled on the minibus. In recognition of their artistic talent, Paul Kenny, Director of West Wallasey Car & Van Hire presented prizes to Amy and runners-up, 9-year-old Evie Kershaw and 10-year-old Niamh Roberts. Amy received a brand-new push bike, giving her the chance to learn how to cycle for the first time. Evie and Niamh were presented with Amazon vouchers and West Wallasey Car & Van Hire goody packs
Stuart Barnes, Chief Executive of The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone said,“ We are immensely grateful to Paul and the whole of the West Wallasey Car & Van Hire team for engaging with our young people and encouraging them to showcase their creative talents, through this fantastic project. We can now hit the road in our new-look mini-bus, helping us to attract new members and transport our young people in style. We’ ll be supporting our winner, Amy, to get to grips with cycling as soon as possible so that she can enjoy her fantastic prize.”
Paul Kenny added,“ We are very proud to be a founder patron of The Hive and we have been most impressed by the excellent work that has been achieved during the opening year. The young people of Wirral have really embraced the centre and their enthusiasm is a joy to see. We were extremely impressed by the creative talents and high standards of the design entries and choosing a winner was a tough decision. However, we felt that Amy’ s design was outstanding and captured the ethos of The Hive. Well done to Amy, Evie and Niamh for their fantastic work!”
Members of the RAF community in Wirral, who are facing loneliness or isolation are urged to join the RAF Association’ s befriending service. Research shows that issues with isolation are likely to affect some 170,000 RAF veterans, with 85,000 of them coping specifically with feelings of loneliness.
Feelings of isolation and loneliness can affect people of all ages and the befriending service, which runs across the UK, pairs volunteers with members of the RAF family in need of company. The results can be life changing...
Mrs E was struggling to cope with her grief following the loss of her husband. Not wanting to be a burden to her family, she was becoming increasingly isolated. Since being paired with a befriender Mrs E can share her thoughts and feelings with them and describes her befriender as:“ a brick wall of support”.
As the Association’ s Director of Welfare and Policy, Rory O’ Connor explains, the befriending service builds on the community feeling the RAF already offers:“ The befriending service alleviates loneliness and isolation by providing an opportunity for members of the RAF family and volunteers to forge enjoyable new friendships based on shared interests. The befriender will provide companionship and support to a member of the RAF family to ensure that they remain part of the community and feel socially connected to the wider RAF family.
“ We recognise that loneliness and isolation are having a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of an increasing number of the RAF family. Tragically, in the past 12 months there have been many instances when cases of loneliness have been brought to our attention too late. The first we knew of them was when we were approached for help in ensuring that these brave individuals were not buried without people there to honour their lives. There are thousands more in the same situation that we want to support.”
If you, or someone you know could benefit from being befriended, call 0800 018 2361 or visit rafa. org. uk / talk wirrallife. com 9