Welcome to Hook Veterans Club

Rediscover the strength of camaraderie and peer support that you enjoyed in the armed forces at Hook Veterans Club. We are a peer support group for ex-service people in Hook, Hartley Wintney and surrounding villages, dedicated to fostering a community where veterans can connect, share, and thrive. Your journey with the club begins here.

We are here for every ex-service person, whether you served recently or decades ago, in any branch of the armed forces. You may be navigating the transition to civilian life, seeking new purpose, or simply looking for a place where your experiences are understood without explanation.

Many of us face similar challenges – from finding a new routine to maintaining the strong bonds forged in service. We are familiar with the resilience, dedication, and occasional struggles that may come with a military past, and we're here to share the load and celebrate your journey.

At Hook Veterans Club, we will strive to understand the unique journey you've been on.

This group is for you – all ex-service personnel in Hook and beyond. Join us and help create a community that truly gets it.

The Story So Far

First Steps

From a Veterans Health briefing by Whitewater Health on 26 February, that included a piece by the team from Basingstoke Veterans, the idea of a local veterans club in support of our ex-service personnel was born.

Following a visit to the Basingstoke Veterans group on 2 March the initial preparations for a Hook veterans club began.

In order to eventually raise funds in support of local veterans and causes, the club will be set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).  As a consequence the club will need to be registered with the Charity Commission.

Since 2 March work has been happening to produce a draft governing document, the constitution, and a number of the policies that will be required in support of the proposed registration.

Key challenges that need to be addressed include; assessing the level of local interest in such a club, a suitable venue & start-up funding.

A perfect venue has very generously been offered, and accepted, and costs are being kept to a necessary minimum until the level of interest can be established.

The launch of this website has coincided with the going live of the Facebook group, Hook (Hants) Veterans Club, and a campaign to publicise the Hook Veterans Club venture will help understand the level of interest.

Next Steps

There will need to be a two pronged approach to "Next Steps".

1. Start Regular Meetings

It is important, and extremely useful to get the regular meetings established.  A suggestion has been made that there should be a weekday morning session, and possibly a Friday early evening session to include those that are unable to make the weekday morning session.

Kicking off the regular meetings will help spread the word and build the club membership.

2. Charity Commission Registration

In order to submit a Charity Commission registration request certain conditions must be met; documents need to be submitted, Trustees must be named etc.

We can continue right now with the preparation of draft documents etc. but we cannot invent Trustees.  The rules surrounding Trustee requirements are written in the Charity Commission guide and the clubs intentions are covered by The Constitution.

Initially we will be very keen to hear from you if you are interested in becoming a Trustee performing the role of;

  • Treasurer (previous experience required)
  • Secretary (previous experience required)

Trustees in these 2 roles are essential for the registration application.

In addition there will also be Trustee roles as;

  • Vice Chair
  • Events & Social Media Coordinator