A GROUP which gives work and social opportunities to veterans has been given more than £190,000 to continue its work.

Three grants have been awarded to Haslingden-based Veterans In Communities (VIC) to secure projects over the coming years.

East Lancashire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has approved a further grant for two years, a total of £160,000, while £8,000 has been agreed by The Soldiers’ Charity and £21,710 from Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Social Investment Fund.

VIC chief executive Liz Hamilton said: “It means our work can continue and extend to reach even more veterans and former emergency services personnel.

“The CCG grant covers the work of VIC in the East Lancashire while The Soldiers’ Charity amount will be used to help set up Veterans in Production, a new initiative that will see veterans creating items for sale.

“The grant will pay for equipment and tools that can be used to create items for sale.

“There are plans to create more benches from upcycled pallets along with nesting boxes and other woodworking projects.”

As part of the CCG grant, VIC is also running an inter-generational project uniting cadets with veterans.

Cadets from the Air Training Corps attended a meeting at the VIC Centre when they got to hear tales from four veterans.