Armed Forces Community Support Hub - Devon/Exeter

17/10/2026

Another wonderful week at the HUB!

From a fabulous drop-in at Exeter Cathedral and a fascinating talk on the RAF in Exeter by local military historian Chris Wiseman, to bacon, banter and camaraderie at the Gordon Messenger Centre, followed by a brilliant Newton Abbot Breakfast Club at the Toby Inn – it’s been a busy week!

Chris W will be joining us again on Wednesday 28 October for a bespoke military tour of Exeter Cathedral and its grounds, uncovering some hidden treasures along the way! Get in touch in you would like to be involved.

Wiggy also hosted a cream tea party for fellow HUB members, serving them as Count Dracula himself. It was a suitably well-organised operation – although the only thing being deployed was the jam, and thankfully there were no casualties in the great cream-first-or-jam-first campaign!

It’s wonderful to see old and new members connecting, making friends and supporting one another. That’s what the HUB is all about! We hope you enjoy exploring our autumn and winter calendar. Interested in joining us? Email [email protected] to find out more.

No one should have to go it alone!

16/10/2026

HUB WEEKLY ACTIVITIES: Week commencing 19 October 2026

TUESDAY 20 OCT | 10:00
HUB Coffee & Catch Up – Paignton
📍 NEW VENUE: Esplanade Hotel, Esplanade Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6EG
A brew, a bit of banter and some good company. Come along for a relaxed catch-up, reconnect with familiar faces and give any new ones a warm welcome. No drill, no ranks and definitely no parade-ground nonsense — just friendly conversation, support and a proper cuppa!
Parking information: Parking is available on site, but please remember to register your vehicle at hotel reception to avoid a parking fine.

WEDNESDAY 21 OCT | 10:00
Quay Coffee & the Custom House – Exeter
📍 Meet the HUB team at Bar Venezia, Exeter Quay.
We’ll start with a quick coffee and a catch-up before heading off to explore Exeter’s historic Custom House. Built in 1680, Exeter’s Custom House reflects the city’s rich maritime trading history. Once a centre for managing goods and collecting customs duties on the busy River Exe, it now offers a fascinating glimpse into Exeter’s past as an important trading port. A little local history, some good company and a chance to enjoy Exeter at a gentler pace — no marching orders required!

THURSDAY 22 OCT | 10:00
Bacon ’n’ Banter – GMC Lympstone
📍 Gordon Messenger Centre, Lympstone
Bacon, brews, dominoes and plenty of good-natured banter. Join us for a relaxed morning with familiar faces, a friendly welcome and HUB support if you need it. Come for the breakfast, stay for the banter.
Suggested donation: £5

A warm welcome to the whole Armed Forces community. All HUB activities are open to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Whether you're a regular or thinking of joining us for the first time, new faces are always welcome.
Come as you are — no fuss, no pressure and absolutely no need to salute on arrival!

For more information: [email protected]

12/10/2026

Mission Motorsport will be back at Three Sisters Circuit this Wednesday, 14th October, for our monthly Banter, Brews & Cars meet-up, have you signed up yet? If not we'd love you to join us!
Running from 9am–3pm, it’s a relaxed coffee morning with a little extra excitement thrown in - unlimited passenger laps around the circuit with our volunteer drivers! The activity is FREE for those in the Armed Forces community. So veterans, those serving and family members are welcome to join us for the day.
It’s a great opportunity to get out, meet like-minded people, catch up with familiar faces and make some new friends, all with a bit of motorsport fun along the way!
Bring a friend or two, grab a brew and come and spend some time with the Mission Motorsport community. Whether you fancy a chat over a coffee or a few laps around the track, as we like to say, “It’s not just about the cars; it’s about the people, the conversations and the community we build along the way.”
Hope to see you there.

Open to the Armed Forces community join us at the Three Sisters Circuit for a day of recovery sport and fantastic company.

12/10/2026

Mission Motorsport October newsletter is out now!
There’s plenty happening across Mission Motorsport this month, from new partnerships and fundraising initiatives to upcoming events and preparations for Race of Remembrance.
Inside this month’s newsletter, you’ll find:
• Legacy Lap – a new way to become part of Race of Remembrance, wherever you are.
• The unveiling of our third-generation Mazda Poppy Art Car.
• Our new partnership with Gama Aviation.
• The growing community.
• Upcoming events, volunteering opportunities and fundraising challenges.
Every activity helps us continue supporting wounded, injured and sick veterans, serving personnel and their families through recovery, rehabilitation and opportunities beyond military service.
Have a read, share with your community, and find out what’s happening, what’s coming up and how you can get involved.
Read the October newsletter

Welcome to our monthly newsletter. Keep up to date with all the latest news, key events and information from The Forces’ Motorsport Charity!

09/10/2026

HUB WEEKLY ACTIVITIES: Week commencing 12 October 2026
Another week, another opportunity to get out, connect, have a brew and, most importantly, avoid doing everything on your own.
No medals required. Just turn up!

☕ TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER | 10:00
HUB Coffee & Catch Up – Exeter Cathedral Café
📍 1 The Cloisters, Exeter EX1 1HS
Join us for coffee, conversation and good company in the beautiful surroundings of Exeter Cathedral.
A relaxed chance to catch up, meet new people and enjoy some friendly veteran banter.
Everyone welcome.

🧘 WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER | 11:00
Wellbeing & Mindfulness with Jola
📍 HUB HQ, 6 Southernhay West, Exeter
Time to stand down and recharge the batteries.
Enjoy an hour of gentle mindfulness, relaxation and practical wellbeing techniques in a calm, welcoming space.
Clear the head, reset the system and leave feeling a little lighter.
No camouflage required.

🎖️ WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER | 14:00
HUB Veterans' Drop-In: Chris Wiseman will be giving a presentation on the RAF in Exeter
📍 Watermeadow Care Home, Bewick Avenue, Topsham
Our friendly, multigenerational drop-in brings veterans together across the generations. Come along for a cuppa, conversation, shared stories and new connections — and help strengthen those all-important links across the Armed Forces community. New and existing HUB members welcome.

🥓 THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER | 10:00
Bacon 'n' Banter – GMC Lympstone
📍 Gordon Messenger Centre, Lympstone
Mission brief: bacon, brews and plenty of banter.
Enjoy a relaxed morning with dominoes, good company and a few laughs. HUB support is also available if you need it.
Suggested donation: £5

🍳 FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER | 10:30
Newton Abbot HUB Breakfast Club
📍 Toby Carvery, Penn Inn Roundabout, Torquay Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 4AQ
Round off the week with a hearty breakfast, good conversation and plenty of laughs.
Come along, pull up a chair and enjoy some good company.

ALL HUB SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO:
Veterans • Serving Personnel • Reservists • Military Families
No drill required — just bring yourself and we’ll take it from there.

For more information: [email protected]

08/10/2026

What a night at Exeter Northcott Theatre!

The HUB headed out to see Little Shop of Horrors this week — and what a brilliant, gloriously bonkers show it was! From fantastic performances and toe-tapping music to plenty of laughs, it was a real treat. Thank you to all the staff at Exeter Northcott for their support & kindness to our veterans.

But it’s about more than the theatre. It’s about connecting through the arts — bringing veterans together, sharing an experience alongside actors, theatre staff and the wider community, and simply enjoying a great night out together. A little culture, a lot of laughter, and some very happy HUB members.

07/10/2026

This weeks Friday HUB drop in at Chivenor has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience.

02/10/2026

📣 PAIGNTON DROP-IN – NEW LOCATION!

The HUB’s Paignton Drop-In is moving from Paignton Library to The Esplanade Hotel.

📍 The Esplanade Hotel, Esplanade Rd, Paignton, TQ4 6EG
📅 Tuesday 20 October and every 3rd Tuesday of the month
⏰ 10am–12pm

The new venue is fully accessible, has a fully stocked snack bar with teas & coffees, welcomes well-behaved dogs, and has parking on site. It’s also close to train and bus routes – plus a phenomenal sea view! 🌊

Same HUB faces, same friendly drop-in – just a better view from HQ! 😉

Come along for a brew, a chat and a bit of company. Stand easy – we’ll see you there!

02/10/2026

HUB Weekly Activities: Week Commencing 5 October 2026

Tuesday 6 October | 10:00
☕ CWTCH/HUB Coffee & Catch Up
17 Union Street, Newton Abbot, TQ12 2JX
Stand easy with a brew, friendly faces and good conversation. Come for a chat, a laugh or simply some company — no boot polishing or standing to attention required!

Wednesday 7 October | 19:00
🌱 Little Shop of Horrors – Exeter Northcott Theatre
Meet in the Theatre Bar at 19:00 | Pre-booked members only
Stand easy, troops — it’s theatre operation time! Expect outrageous characters, brilliant music and one very hungry green recruit whose only order seems to be “Feed me!”
Enjoy the show, have a laugh and, whatever you do… don’t feed the plant! 🌱

Thursday 8 October | 10:00
🥓 Bacon ’n’ Banter – GMC Lympstone
Bacon butties, brews, banter and another battle for the Norman Cup! Friendly rivalry over the dominoes table guaranteed. The only inspection required is the quality of the bacon bap.
Suggested donation: £5

Friday 9 October | 10:30
HUB Support Drop In – RMB Chivenor
Chivenor Chapel, just outside the camp gates, Barnstaple EX31 4AZ
Round off the week with welfare support, advice, a friendly face and a cuppa strong enough to fix most things.

All HUB activities are open to veterans, serving personnel and their families — because no one should have to tackle life’s missions alone.
More information: [email protected]

25/09/2026

HUB Weekly Activities | Week Commencing 28 September 2026

A quieter week for the HUB this week, with the team taking some time for a catch-up and keeping the engines ticking over behind the scenes.

Thursday 1 October | 10:00am
🥓 Bacon ’n’ Banter – GMC, Lympstone
Bacon butties, brews and another battle for the Norman Cup! Expect friendly rivalry around the dominoes table, plenty of banter and tea strong enough to restore operational readiness. Bring a mate and join the squad — the only inspection is the quality of the bacon bap!
Suggested donation: £5

Friday 2 October | 10:00am
☕ Crediton Breakfast Club – The Ship Hotel
Ease into the weekend with a hearty breakfast, relaxed conversation and good company. Full English, light bite or simply a brew and a catch-up — everyone’s welcome.

All HUB activities are open to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Because no one should have to tackle life’s missions alone.

📧 [email protected]