A place where veterans find understanding, friendship and support

For many veterans, finding a place where they can connect with others who understand their experiences can make a life-changing difference.

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Three years ago, the Veterans Hub at Ely Library was created to provide exactly that: a welcoming space where veterans and their families could come together, share experiences and build friendships in a place where they feel understood.

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Located in the heart of the city and designed to be accessible, the Hub has grown into a thriving community, with between 30 and 40 veterans and some of their family members attending every week.

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While the Hub offers practical support, it quickly became clear that one of its greatest strengths was creating a place where people could simply come together, talk and feel a sense of belonging.

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For one veteran, joining the Hub helped bring connection back into his life after a period of loneliness and isolation. Now aged 98, he joined the army in 1945 and served for eight years in Germany during the time of the war crimes trials. After being widowed, living alone and finding socialising difficult, the Hub gave him the opportunity to meet like-minded people, share stories from his military service and build new friendships. Through the support of the Hub, he also found a place to live that was less isolated, making it easier to get out and meet people.

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Another veteran joined the Hub while struggling with PTSD. Over the past three years, the support and connection he found through the group have been life changing. With help from the Hub, he was able to access counselling and now feels like a completely different person.

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The impact of the Hub reaches far beyond its weekly gatherings. Members have received support with housing, benefits, grief counselling, lifts to hospital appointments and fundraising for other groups. Just as importantly, veterans support one another, creating a community built on shared experiences, understanding and friendship.

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For families, the Hub also provides reassurance. Some veterans are dropped off by their wives, who use the opportunity to go shopping knowing their loved ones are happy and in a place where they feel welcomed and supported.

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What started as a place where veterans could access support and signposting has grown into: a community where people can find friendship, encouragement and a place where they truly belong.

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The Veterans Hub at Ely Library was recognised at the Warm Welcome Awards 2026, with its founder receiving the Community Connector Award for creating a space that continues to make a lasting difference to veterans and their families.

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