The Carlisle United Community Sports Trust [CST] Armed Forces and Veterans Club received a huge boost this week when engineering and architectural specialists Arch Henderson, who operate throughout the UK and abroad, stepped in to provide vital sponsorship which will help with the group’s activities throughout the 2022/23 season.
Veterans and service personnel from all branches of the military meet once a month at Brunton Park for an informal breakfast get-together, where stories are swapped and new friends made, and Arch Henderson moved quickly to show their support for the venture thanks to former Royal Engineer Andy Neillings, who works for the company.
Andy, a Senior Project Manager with Arch-Henderson, said: “I live locally, and I’ve never really attended any veteran events on a regular basis, but I thought it was fantastic when I saw that the football club was hosting regular meetings.
“I know from speaking to former colleagues that sometimes it’s just good to be able to meet up with like-minded people and talk about your time in service, so I decided to pop along to see what it was about.
“The informal and friendly atmosphere is a credit to the organisers and people who attend, and I know that all of the veterans I’ve met really appreciate the fact that Carlisle United are doing this for the service community.
“As with anything of this nature, funding is required, and with Arch Henderson being very focused on community projects, and helping wherever they can, it came as no surprise at all when it was agreed that the CST Veterans Club was something they wanted to get behind.
“I can speak on behalf of everyone at Arch Henderson when I say that we hope the Veterans Club will continue to go from strength-to-strength and we are proud to be associated with it.”
Alan Kilbride, the Senior Partner for Arch Henderson, said: “We are delighted that we have contributed in supporting this fledgling event and hope that it becomes even more successful in time.
“We employ Armed Forces Veterans within our organisation and realise that the lasting camaraderie is an important social aspect to adjusting to civilian life.
“In delivering success within our industry, and indeed our company, professionalism and accountability are key, the values and standards that transfer from the military to the engineering sector underpin solid foundations by which innovative and robust solutions can be achieved.
“We at Arch Henderson are proud to be associated with the Carlisle United CST Armed Forces Veterans Club and wish them continued success as the organisation matures.”
CST manager John Halpin said: “I really can’t put into words how much this sponsorship means to us. The group is still in its infancy, just four-months old, so to receive backing like this at this stage from a world-renowned company is simply fantastic.
“It means we can plan ahead and continue to grow the numbers, and start to look at other areas where we can perhaps support the local veteran community, be that around Remembrance weekend or at other times during the year.
“Arch Henderson stepping forward in this way is huge for us. A thank you from us and all of our veterans goes to Andy Neillings and his colleagues for making this happen, it really is going to make a significant positive impact.”
Arch Henderson was formed in 1919 to offer specialist services in the design of harbour works, coastal protection schemes and ship repair facilities. This specialism in maritime civil engineering works continues but the firm has expanded to include architectural, civil, structural, and mechanical engineering and Principal Designer services for a wide range of industrial, energy and commercial sectors. Arch Henderson are currently involved in marine engineering schemes within Cumbria and the Border region.
They have offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverness, Lerwick, Southampton and Thurso.
Click HERE to visit the Arch Henderson website.
