It was a while ago that Ernest Bishop left Coronation Street. 

Now actor Stephen Hancock is featuring in a community film on Waveney Partnership Television. It is in aid of promoting support for SSAFA Forces Help (The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association). Stephen and his ‘acting wife’, highlight how people, who are no longer in the armed forces, are eligible for help. Also on screen is ex British Army fusilier Jason Wade, walking along Lowestoft beach. This is to show the support serving soldiers can receive with SSAFA Forces Help case workers. SSAFA Forces Help is the oldest British Armed forces charity established in 1885. It provides help with financial and practical issues people face today.

SSAFA Suffolk Divisional Secretary for Waveney, Audrey Bishop – Bailey, said “SSAFA Waveney is one of seven divisions in Suffolk and is manned by unpaid volunteers. Over the last few years the age and the circumstances of clients have changed and casework has increased considerably. We now help an increasing number of younger ex-servicemen and women and their families, many of whom are homeless. It is very rewarding for all of us knowing that we have helped. Waveney Partnership Television has given SSAFA Forces Help a great opportunity to raise its profile to the local community. If anyone who served in the forces or is a close family member that may need help or advice, it is just one telephone call away.”

Stephen Hancock holding SSAFA brochure with WPTV film crew and cast

Waveney Partnership Television is an imitative supported by the Local Strategic Partnership. It is aimed at profile raising through the nine plasma screens situated across Waveney. The three year project has featured sixty eight local organisation films along with the strategic news. The very first films were of Whitton Life, Shopmobility, The Safer Neighbourhood team and The Joy of food in 2007. These and others are currently being reshown along with SAFFA Forces Help and three new film initiatives. They are “The Kirkley Centre” the new home for The Community Forum, “The Crossing” (just redeveloped) and “Community Learning and Skills Development”.

Waveney Partnership Television Co-ordinator Annette Bowler said “It is a great achievement to have helped raise the profile of so many voluntary and community organisations through the use of WPTV. The plasma screens have provided over forty information and event slides every month that is nearly 1500 slides in the past three years. I have met many dedicated volunteers and learnt about their worthwhile causes. I hope it has been beneficial to many individuals and organisations.”

Jason Wade on Lowestoft beach

Suffolk Constabulary, Partnership Co-ordinator Alan Osborne said “Waveney Partnership Television has helped raise the profile of many organisations over the last three years including the public sector, health and voluntary organisations. Sadly the funding for the project finishes this August but the screens will remain in place. Waveney Partnership TV will however have no control over the content. All that remains is to say a big thank you to all the people who contributed to making the project a success and in particular to the venues that have hosted the screens.”

If you want to know more about your loc al community visit one of the plasma screens located in: Asda, Morrison’s and Tesco supermarkets, Lowestoft College, Waveney Sports & Leisure, Oulton Village Medical Centre, Adventure Island Play Park, Palmers Department Store and the Andaman Surgery.

www.waveneycf.org.uk