As Dean Hook cheerfully greets visitors at a veterans’ centre in Wigan, a smile enveloping his face, it’s hard to imagine he once believed he had no future. But for Dean, who served in the RAF and many other ex-service personnel who use the Greater Manchester’s Armed Forces Community HQ, close to Wigan town centre,this is a place where ‘lives are rebuilt’.
John Healy and Andy Burnham visited the Wigan hub
Recently Dean and others at the ‘hub’, met Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, along with city region mayor Andy Burnham, there to announce the first government-funded veteran centres. Mr Burnham described the centre as a ‘national example’ of care for veterans.
The HQ is one of 14 veteran support centres across the UK which will receive up to £1m each to act as a single point of contact for veterans. It offers support services such as health, housing, employment, finance, wellbeing, welfare and integration into society.
What the veterans’ centre in Wigan means for Dean
But for Dean and his ‘best mate’ Santana it’s a place of safety and comfort.
Proud Wiganer Dean, 54, from Swinley, has previously suffered from alcohol dependency and recounts the sordid details of his lowest point.
In 2015, my doctor got in touch with the alcohol action team. They came to my flat, there were 130 bottles of empty White Lightning cider and 360 cans of Carling lager – they counted them. All on the floor on my poky little bedsit. I’d not washed up, I was scruffy, I was dirty. There was p*ss in some of the bottles, damp and mould on some of the walls.
That day I took my first step towards sobriety. I had to hold on to the key worker helping that day just to get myself out of there. Alcohol and drug addiction can happen to anybody. People say to me ‘just have a couple’ but if you have a problem with drink, you simply can’t [just] have two.
Dean sang the praises of the Wigan centre. He said:
This centre has the right people at your side who you can talk to. I hated opening up to people, I thought ‘are they taking the p*ss out me?’. But I can talk to people here, because it’s for veterans, many have been there themselves. I could have easily harmed myself, I’ve often thought about it. I could be in jail or a mental institution but I’m not, I’m here.
Santana is rebuilding his life with the Hub’s help as well
Alongside Dean is his pal Santana Stow, 54. He is originally from Essex but has lived in Wigan since 2009.
The bond between the two men is clearly evident. The impression they give is that they would be ready in an instant to support each other if needed.
Santana, known as San, said his life has been ‘rebuilt’ in the 13 months since he attended the hub.
I came here just over a year ago after a suicide attempt, I went to a fellow veteran and said ‘I need help’. He said I can support you but the help you really need is at the veterans’ centre, they’ll help you.
I walked through that door and didn’t know how to start. I gave them a rough outline and by the following day I was seeing a counsellor. As soon as I walked through that door it was like someone picked up the weight off my shoulders. Now I’ll be at home feeling really sh*t and depressed but then I’ll think ‘I’ll pop down the hub’. Once I get on to the footprint of this building it’s like I’m safe. Other centres like this would be great. For us two it’s been a lifeline, it’s saved us. They put me up in a shelter and now I’ve got my own flat. I came in an empty shell and they’ve built me up. I still have bad days but I now have the strength to keep going. It’s been the foundation of me rebuilding my life.
Dean and San now volunteer at the centre. Recently they helped a veteran move his furniture and possessions into his new home.
Dean said.
What I like about volunteering here is it doesn’t feel like a job, there’s no boss telling me what to do.
Veteran’s need was seen and responded to in Wigan
Speaking during the visit earlier this month, Andy Burnham said:
“When people have served the country and put themselves in dangerous positions in harm’s way it’s critical that when they come back we give them everything they need to rebuild their lives and then to have as good a life as possible.
I remember when I was MP for Leigh after Afghanistan and Iraq when people came back, the support just wasn’t there. There was no safety net and many people fell between the cracks. The mental health support in particular, just was not good enough.
What happened in Wigan was that it was seen and responded to with this investment. Wigan council provided this building and the volunteers and everyone who works here has turned it into something truly wonderful.
It’s an example for the country. It provides whole person support, meeting people where they are.”
An article by Local Democracy Reporter Chris Gee.
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