Veterans’ Breakfast Club anniversary

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, with veterans and members of the Armed Forces family at the Veterans' Breakfast

The Veterans’ Breakfast Club is thriving as it celebrates a successful 12 months.

The club was formed as a partnership between the Rochdale branch of The Royal British Legion and Rochdale Borough Council to provide a support and social network to local veterans.

Since May 2016 over 1,000 breakfasts have been cooked up and served to members of the armed forces family from across the borough and beyond.

The wider vision of the breakfast club is to provide an informal approach to veterans’ welfare, under the military covenant umbrella, which the council is a leading advocate of.

Organisations that regularly attend include the Royal British Legion, The Fusilier Association, the Parachute Regimental Association and Veterans in Communities.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, the council’s lead member for the armed forces, said: “The breakfast club provides veterans with the weekly chance to share stories, socialise and enjoy a fantastic breakfast. It’s a vital support network helping to raise the profile of local veterans’ groups. Well done to everyone involved.”

Mayor  Ray Dutton, said: “It’s an informal environment that allows like-minded people to come together. We can be proud in Rochdale of our Armed Forces community and now additional funding from the council will ensure the club continues to support our veterans all year round.”

Peter Clegg, president of Rochdale Fusiliers Association, said: “We should never underestimate the pastoral and welfare benefits the breakfast club provides to veterans and dependants. It’s been a successful year and long may this Rochdale success story flourish.”

The Veterans’ Breakfast Club is held every Thursday at Rochdale Town Hall’s dining room. Doors open at 9am and a breakfast will cost just £2.50.

The council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012, aimed at encouraging communities to support services that promote and encourage activities that help military and ex-military personnel including dependants.