A group of Inverness veterans say they have been “kicked in the teeth” as the city’s welfare centre faces threats of closure.
Poppyscotland’s Welfare Centre on Strothers Lane has been earmarked for closure as officials explore new ways of offering support for the Armed Forces community.
The centre is one of two facing the axe by the Royal British Legion (RBL) group, with a centre in Kilmarnock also expected to be withdrawn.
Consultations are currently ongoing with stakeholders to establish the long-term impacts these closures would have, with a final decision due in early June.
Doors to the Inverness facility first opened in 2013, becoming the first of its kind outwith the central belt.
A total of 112 veterans were provided with one-to-one support in the year prior to the pandemic, with a further 103 supported in the last year.
The threats of closure come amid plans by Poppyscotland and the RBL to invest £14million over the next three years to strengthen and expand services across the UK which have seen a surge in demand in recent years.
Directors state the closure would not hamper support services in the area but enable them to reinvest the money spent on incurring costs in other popular services and deliver personalised care.
Poppyscotland Chief Executive, Mark Collins said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on people’s lives with many members of our Armed Forces community struggling to cope with unemployment, bereavement, complicated housing and financial issues and poor mental health and well-being as a result.
“Whilst these changes would allow the charity to operate more cost effectively, freeing up more of our funds to spend directly on supporting our Armed Forces community, we are aware of the impact they will have on not only our staff members but on the beneficiaries, volunteers and partner organisations who are based in and use our Welfare Centres.
“We will be working closely with our staff as we explore how these changes could impact their working arrangements and how they deliver their jobs on a day-today basis.”
‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the centre’
Veterans in Inverness say there are “livid” following news of plans to close the city centre facility.
Gordon Macmillan has been a regular user of the welfare centre in recent years, dedicating his life to fundraising for the charity he says helped change his life.
Army veteran to undertake sponsored walk in full military PPE in aid of Poppyscotland
Aged just 15, he joined the Gordon Highlanders serving eight and a half years’ service before leaving the force at the age of 24.
He says for many veteran’s like him, the centre and its staff saved his life.
“Personally, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the centre,” the 66-year-old said.
“All of the veterans wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the staff at the resource centre. Around nine to ten of us were suicidal.
“When we came out the Army, we all thought this is where we are and we just kept going not knowing that there was something wrong with us.
“If it wasn’t for the resource centre we wouldn’t get getting the support we are getting now.”
Former Rifleman for the Royal Green Jackets, Chad Fraser-Hall, said the centre has been an invaluable resource to him.
He added: “This decision came right out of the blue.
“The centre has helped me no end. I have had to live with things for the past 50 years. Without the centre, I wouldn’t have been treated for combat stress.
“I don’t think a lot of us would be here if it wasn’t for the centre and the staff.”
Jim McNair, 65, a Royal Scots veteran condemned the decision.
He said: “The centre keeps you going.
“There are a lot of veterans that still use the drop-in to get help for housing and their mental health.
“A lot of veterans prefer to do it face-to-face but people don’t understand that. A lot of the younger ones would also rather do it face-to-face than on zoom.
“It’s another kick in the teeth for the veterans.”
“We will fight”
In an attempt to find resolution, the veterans have arranged to speak with the masterminds behind the plans on Wednesday via zoom.
However, Mr Macmillan says no matter the outcome, they are committed to maintaining a centre for personnel in the north.
He said: “There is going to be fallout and questions asked. They are cutting their nose off to spite their face.
“The people making the decisions, they have never been to the welfare centres to speak to the veterans or anybody else up there to find out if it’s valuable or not.
“It someone who has made a decision but doesn’t know the role that these centres play.
“We are committed to having a central hub in the Highlands because the Highlands is a big place to say we will spread our resources.
“We will put up the drawbridge and fight every inch. If it comes to it we will even open our own centre for it.”