New breakfast club for Armed Forces and veterans
Serving members and veterans are welcome at regular event beginning this month
Serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans based in Chelmsford and the surrounding area are invited to a new monthly Breakfast Club, hosted at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
The first meeting of the Chelmsford Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club will take place at ARU’s Chelmsford campus from 9.15am until noon on Wednesday, 27 April, and the group will subsequently meet on the last Wednesday of each month at the same venue.
The club is part of a network of breakfast clubs across the country, aimed at promoting social interaction and wellbeing between members. There are no subscriptions or commitments, and the club welcomes serving or former members of all Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.
The first event will include a free breakfast for the first 25 attendees, including any ARU staff or students who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces, either regular or reserve.
ARU carries out influential research into veteran affairs through its Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research (VFI). In November 2021, ARU was awarded the Silver Award by the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme, recognising the positive environment and support towards employees with an Armed Forces background. ARU signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016.
Professor Michael Almond, who is organising the event on behalf of ARU, said:
“At ARU we pride ourselves on providing support for those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and the breakfast club provides another opportunity to do that.
“These events will provide a safe space for people to meet, reminisce, and enjoy social support with those who share similar experiences and also understand military service.
“I hope that hosting these regular breakfast clubs will help to connect current and ex-service personnel from across the university and the local community.”