The Veterans Hub Weymouth & Portland CIC

10/12/2025

The Baton!

Last year, Julie from the hub, had the pleasure of summiting Ben Nevis on possibly the warmest September on the mountain. The team, made up of veterans and civilians were also joined by Alan from The Baton.

The Baton has been crafted with care and respect from the handle of a stretcher; a stretcher used in battle to carry the wounded and those in need, It has now returned home from Helmand Province in Afghanistan to a new role in recognition of those who have paid and those who are ready to pay, the ultimate price with their lives. A physical symbol of hope and thanks.

The baton itself makes its journey on many expeditions and events to fundraise and highlight the work the people behind the name does to support our veterans

The Baton are a small registered charity that aim to provide small, immediate support for veterans in dire need of help. We recently got in touch with Alan to ask if he could help a veteran who was street homeless. Thanks to The Baton he got somewhere safe and warm to stay for a few nights until other plans could be put in place and is viewing a room of his own this evening.

Thank you very much to The Baton

https://www.thebaton.co.uk/

10/12/2025

Fancy a game of Uckers? A Royal Navy tradition

Join us from 10am on Friday the 16th January for a 24 hour sponsored Uckers game. Get in touch for more details and to let us know you're coming if out of cafe hours.

This is to raise funds to purchase a hydraulic therapy bed for our treatment room.

donate here https://donorbox.org/uckers-challenge or scan the QR code

Our hub is open to all of the community Mon - Friday 10am until 4pm and Saturdays 9am-3pm

10/12/2025

We're trying to get some insight in to visitors that come to the hub. Unfortunately the survey we used is only letting us view the first 25 answers. We will redo and try again next week. Huge apologies to those who have already taken the time to answer

09/12/2025

Craig had previously been reported as found after a beacon alert yesterday but a new alert has gone out again as a HIGH RISK. Please share

BEACON UPDATE: FOUND SAFE
Craig, for whom we recently launched two Beacon Alerts, has returned home and is safe.

Thank you to everyone who shared the appeal, sent in information, and kept an eye out. Your support made a real difference at a very difficult time for those who care about him.

If you'd like to know more about Beacon Alert, please visit:
https://beaconalert.co.uk/

If you're a veteran or serving member of the armed forces — or you're worried about someone who is — you can register for the Forcer Protocol:
https://forcerprotocol.org/

If you're going through a rough time, support is available. Please reach out.

CALL 999
If there is a risk of harm, it's an emergency.
SAMARITANS
Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
OP COURAGE
Specialist NHS support for the armed forces community.
ANDY'S MAN CLUB
Free peer-support groups for men across the UK.

More support options: https://beaconalert.co.uk/getting-support/

09/12/2025

On Monday, we were invited to do a talk at the Masonic Hall by the Portland Broken Column Association, a group of widows of Freemasons. Jim Hoyland went along to represent the Hub and talk about the work that goes on here to support veterans, their families and our local community.

The Portland Broken Column Association meet at the hall to enjoy talks, regular outings and other activities. Local Lodges take turns opening the hall for them and ensuring they are well looked after.

Photo: PGM (Steve James), Jean - Sectary Portland BCA, Sarah - Chair Portland BCA and of course Jim of the Veterans Hub

Thank you for hosting us.

09/12/2025

Ian from First Point is in the Cafe today on a drop in service if you need advice on benefits and support until about 1pm. No appointment needed

The Veterans Hub Community Cafe

09/12/2025

Just a reminder of our Christmas opening hours!

Our doors are open to everyone and the support we receive from the community enables us to continue to support our veterans as much as we can.

Our regular hours are Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm and Cafe and Shop only on Saturdays 9am-3pm

08/12/2025

BEACON UPDATE: FOUND SAFE

Craig, for whom we recently launched a Beacon Alert, has now been located and is safe.

Thank you to everyone who shared the appeal, sent in information, and kept an eye out. Your support made a real difference at a very difficult time for those who care about him.

If you'd like to know more about Beacon Alert, please visit:
https://beaconalert.co.uk/

If you're a veteran or serving member of the armed forces — or you're worried about someone who is — you can register for the Forcer Protocol:
https://forcerprotocol.org/

If you're going through a rough time, support is available. Please reach out.

CALL 999
If there is a risk of harm, it's an emergency.

SAMARITANS
Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

OP COURAGE
Specialist NHS support for the armed forces community.

ANDY'S MAN CLUB
Free peer-support groups for men across the UK.

More support options: https://beaconalert.co.uk/getting-support/

08/12/2025

Dear Santa,

This is The Veterans Hub, calling in on all frequencies (including that one we’re pretty sure still has elf interference). We trust you’ve completed your annual sleigh maintenance, reindeer hooves are polished to inspection standards, and your cookie-consumption training is on schedule.

We are submitting this letter as part of Operation: Acquire Christmas Goodies, authorised by absolutely no one—but we’re doing it anyway.

This year, we’ve been:

Mostly on the nice list (we assume you overlook sarcasm). 😬

Excellent at teamwork, especially when it comes to not doing PT 🥵.

Highly skilled in cake-based diplomacy🤪 .

Heroic in our battle against the malfunctioning coffee maker (We're not telling if this refers to man or machine🤫) .

In the interest of mission success, we have requested the following high-priority supplies:

Coffee strong enough to make an elf grow chest hair 💪.

Socks. Lots of socks. Tactical socks. Socks that self-clean if possible🧦.

A GPS for Rudolph because we all know the man gets lost every year 🧭.

A new chair for the break room because the current one fails every safety inspection.

And maybe, if you’ve got the budget for it, a magical device that stops veterans from starting every story with “Back in my day…” 👴🏻

In return, we promise the following:

We will not attempt to debrief your elves 🖍.

We will try not to salute the reindeer (no promises)🫡 .

We will maintain a secure landing zone free of obstacles, obstacles being defined as: coffee mugs, snack wrappers, and that one guy’s boots he refuses to put away 🥾🥾.

Thank you for your ongoing service in global holiday morale operations. Please give our regards to Mrs. Claus, who is clearly the real logistics officer behind your outfit 🎅🤶.

Merry Christmas from all of us at The Veterans Hub—
over and out, before we get put on the naughty list for excessive radio chatter.

In all seriousness though and you've made it this far and it wasn't TLDR, firstly...well done, secondly we do have an Amazon Wishlist for Santa. These are things we need as a one off or on a regular basis. If you are able to contribute towards these by purchasing, they will be sent directly to the hub and allow us to reduce our spend that could be better spent elsewhere within the hub. the link is below or in our bio on Instagram

https://amzn.eu/17S00RY

08/12/2025

Just leaving this here for a Monday pick me up.....

Open to all Mon to Fri (10am-4pm) and Sat (9am-3pm) for the cafe and shop and Mon to Fri (10am-4pm) for the welfare office

07/12/2025

*Next Sunday*

Happening next Sunday, 14th December, at Poole Masonic Hall. Veterans Breakfast with a talk from Chris Moorley. Starts at 0930hrs until 1200hrs. Contact dorsetfreemasonryvetsbreakfast@gmail.com for more information *PLEASE NOTE YOU NEED TO BOOK BREAKFAST BEFORE THE 12TH IF YOU ARE GOING please click link below*

All Veterans welcome, you don't have to be a freemason

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelW3eNr5ZS24G_25Lw4KJa0erWtX91yLcGbLCchGbo_5UvSw/viewform

Dorset Freemasonry

#

07/12/2025

Whilst the weather isn't great, we're all set up at the Wyke Xmas Fayre so if you're out and about , pop and see us!