NAAFI Break South Tyneside

For the last year I have been lucky enough to be involved with a fantastic organisation called NAAFI Break South Tyneside (NAAFI means Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes ), which is run by veterans, for veterans. It was set up to help other veterans by giving them a place to go where they can meet up with fellow veterans and talk about anything they want, be it catching up, talking about their experiences or talking about any problems they may be having. They will also help with advice and guidance with everything from dealing with civilian life to finding work, getting the right benefits, or helping them out in any way that is needed. They run a drop-in service where they all meet up on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, 10am to 12 noon, at the Café At The House at Laygate, South Shields. All serving, reservists, veterans and family members are welcome to come along to these sessions.

These sessions really are fantastic, everyone chatting over a cuppa, maybe even a bit of breakfast. They also put on little workshops like the recent pottery and graffiti sessions that had people in showing the members how to make clay pots and sculptures, which were then baked in a kiln and brought back for them to paint, or the graffiti session where they all created their very own unique artwork.

out, like the recent trip to the National Memorial Arboretum for the veterans and their families, kindly funded by South Tyneside Homes, just one of the many companies that help to support NAAFI Break.

For the Queens Platinum Jubilee they held their own garden party at NECA Gardens in South Shields, thankfully the sun was out making it a glorious day, with plenty of food and drinks, some games and plenty of chatting… in-between cake of course, after all, it was a party. Not only was it a great celebration, members also brought donations with them for another fantastic local charity and friend of NAAFI Break, Bede’s Helping Hands Food Bank (you can find them on facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/ bedeshelpinghands please give them a follow and help if you can).

Earlier in the year I had the honour of entertaining one of their members for his 90th Birthday, Korean war veteran Joseph Smith Bailes. Joe really is quite the character and I can’t think of a more perfect choice when it came to asking someone to light the Beacon on the sea front in South Shields as part of the countrywide Platinum Jubilee celebrations. You can see the pride and honour in Joe’s face in the incredible images captured by local photographer Tyler, who is only 16 years old,

well done Tyler! You can see more of the stunning images on Tylers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ tylersmission2018

So if you are a veteran or if you know a veteran who might be interested in NAAFI Break please don’t hesitate to get in touch with them via their facebook page https://www.facebook. com/NAAFIBreakST Likewise, if you would like to help our veterans in any way, be it holding a workshop at one of the sessions or even a financial donation, big or small, everything is always appreciated and goes to give our veterans a fun time away from the stresses of everyday life, which is the very least we can do for these incredible men and women who have served our country so proudly over the years.