Buddy Buddy is a group set up by the Community Trust designed to support former veterans in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.

The group will run monthly and it is hoped that it will expand in the future with day trips out and group meals. 

Oli Barnes, who is part of the group that have set the initiative up, said: “The programme is designed to help former veterans in the area.

“Buddy Buddy is a term used in the army to say, I’m going to watch your back. It’s all about safety with your mates. It’s all about sisterhood and brotherhood.

“Veterans in this area might not say they need help, but they do. It’s a support and friendship group. We want to help people.”

Barnes, also a former veteran, said that he wants to create a space that provides people with support, saying: “When I left the services myself, I felt a bit lost and didn’t know what to do. We want to create a group to help people and provide a safe space for people to get together.

“It’s all about getting people together to have a laugh and a joke with each other. It’s important.” 

Barnes also encouraged people to come down and explained a little bit more about what will be going on, he said: “We will have a guest speaker at the event with a buffet on for anyone in attendance. 

“We will run our first event at the end of August and then it will be the last Thursday of every month from then on. It will run 6pm to 8pm.

“Anyone is free to fire me a message for more information and I’ll get back to you.”

For more information, please email: olibarnes@spireitestrust.org.uk