A new branch of the Royal British Legion has been re-born after more than four decades.
The charity is at the heart of a national network supporting our Armed Forces community. Despite primarily focusing on helping veterans and their families, they also play a vital role in helping hard-to-reach individuals and tackling problems like loneliness and isolation.
Paul Wadsworth, the Chairman of the branch, also mentioned a new membership for juniors which is currently in the works and will be free of charge for anyone aged 12 to 18.
The branch, which launched at the Home Guard on February 15, is the first of its kind in Failsworth since 1978.
Paul, who serviced in the war himself for seven years, said: "We started a veterans' breakfast club two years ago, and we'd meet up once a month; it was then noted that we didn't actually have a branch in Failsworth and I was approached asking if I fancied opening one.
"The launch night was great - I was so happy seeing everyone come together and we even had t-shirts made up especially!
"So far, we've had around 65 new members at our Failsworth branch. You don't have to be ex-military to join either - anyone can! It's really just about getting people together.
"Because we've not had a branch for so long, I think people don't know where to go for help. At the moment they're suffering with their mental health or PTSD and we can give them guidance to support that, it's what we're here for.
"We do lots of fundraising and we can offer food packages too. We hold monthly meetings too and anyone can turn up to these, they're held on the third Friday of the month at 7:30pm. These meetings take place at the Home Guard and the next is scheduled for March 15."
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