Armed forces group open up new South Tyneside venue - but need some help
Veterans Response CIC have opened their new store after moving out of South Shields - but they need your help.
An armed forces support group is celebrating opening its new venue – amid a plea for building refurbishment help and a quick fix for its water supply.
Veterans Response CIC has thrown open its doors in central Jarrow, three months after shutting up shop in South Shields town centre.
Founder Ian Driver, 61, said he was delighted its used goods outlet was trading on the ground floor and a food bank and other support services one story up.
His volunteer team has also stripped bare the building’s top second floor and plan to transform it into training rooms, a video and podcast centre and offices.
But he is seeking a builder to fully refurbish the room at an affordable cost – and he also needs help to find the water input pipe in the former Woolworths outlet.
Ian said the Grange Road premises, which is part of the Viking shopping centre, had been empty for about a decade and the source of its water supply had left him and staff baffled.
He even confirmed utilities bosses had confirmed a supply should be available, but their inspection had also failed to locate its entry point.
Ian said: “It’s exciting to be in our new premises. It’s 100 percent better than the building we left in South Shields.
“Our shop is open and looking good and it’s really nice, and the first floor is now open for business, with the official opening soon.
“We have had to strip asbestos out of the top floor and the walls are now totally bare. We are looking for a builder to do the work it needs.
“We can apply for a grant to pay for the costs but that can take time, and it would be nice to see how supportive of veterans someone could be.
“And we also need a plumber to come in to fix the water supply. We are getting a little coming out of a ground floor tap but not an awful lot, and nothing upstairs.
“I don’t know if it’s a stopcock we’re looking for but we can’t find the source of the water – there’s loads of pipes, but we just can’t get it sussed.
“The water board came out and took a look, but they couldn’t find it either. It could be the stopcock but we’re not sure.”
Ian founded Veterans Response, a not-for-profit community interest company, in 2013.
It closed its King Street store in South Shields in April and will hold its official ‘grand opening day’ from 10am on Friday, July 3.
The CIC delivers highly professional support to veterans and their families in areas including welfare, benefits and housing.
It also has training courses, some of which, including health and safety, first aid, and food hygiene courses, are open to all.
A food bank, supported by retailers including Asda, Greggs and Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a twice-monthly breakfast club, are for veterans only.
Two ‘all-you-can-eat’ breakfast club events are being held for veterans and their families on the Saturdays of June 20 and July 4 at the Sand Dancer pub in Sea Road, South Shields, for £5.
The CIC also has a supply of free bread available for veterans on Wednesday and Thursdays from its shop.
More information is at www.vetaranstraining.co.uk and on Facebook.