The Military Assistance Social Hub –
or MASH as it is more commonly known, is a new charity to the area
having been formed just three years ago.
Covering East Yorkshire,the group offer support and assistance which is available for veterans, those serving and their dependents.
Part of their funding through grants is from different organisations
and the money is well-spent on such things as buying or providing a service, days out for veterans or taking
serving families to an adventure park for the day.
Martin Barmby from the group explained: “We do have regular running costs, even with an all-
volunteer crew. We have the MASH Mobile: a six-seater minibus we purchased to pick veterans up that don’t have their own transport
but wish to be included in our activities.
“And we have recently purchased a mobile café that we will take out to
rural areas for the veterans and serving personnel that can’t make it to one of the MASH hubs (Bridlington,
Beverley, or DST Leconfield for those still serving).
“All this is ensuring no-onesuffers from social isolation.
“We have a policy of once an activity is organised, it is on; we do it whether its one person or one hundred that
turn out for it, because that one may have struggled to gain the courage to attend, and that’s our chance to
help them or signpost them to more specialist help.”
Three of the volunteers are now trained in mental health first aid with some veterans suffering from PTSD.
Said Martin: “We are trying to cast our fund-raising net even further sowe need to spread the word about the good things that MASH does. We can even attend open days to raise awareness and fundraise.
“You will hopefully start to see our charity tins out and about in East Yorkshire and if it is something you
would like to get involved in as a volunteer, fund raiser or as a veteran or serving personnel that needs help,
please get in touch via email, Facebook or LinkedIn. We are all volunteers and as such one of us will answer you as soon as we can.
“MASH does what it says onthe tin, and leaves no one behind.”
