Recovery centre becomes fully operational and other news

A Help for Heroes recovery centre has become fully operational just months after it was officially opened by the Duke of York in April, it has been reported in the Plymouth Herald. The centre is designed to offer vital help and support to people who have been injured, either mentally or physically while serving their country or afterwards when back in civilian life. 

Located at the Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, the Plymouth Naval Service Recovery Centre is situated in two brand new buildings – known as Endeavour Centre and Parker VC – that are purpose built for the charity's needs when helping support those who need it most. they can help those who have suffered injury or mental anguish while serving, as well as people who are struggling to return to civilian life after having been in the armed forces. 

Funded by Help for Heroes, the centre cost some £23 million to build, and is being hailed as a beacon of hope for people who need support for their future. The recovery centre's general manager, Jock Easton, called the full opening of the facility a milestone which he says signals the start of a new era for the services family and the south-west community as a whole.

The former Royal Navy veteran, who served for 30 years, said serving and former Services personnel will use the facilities as they travel along their personal road to recovery. 

Mr Easton said that in the five months that the centre had been active, it had already seen 200 veterans helped along their personal road to recovery, and it also had 48 new referrals in August alone. The fact that it is now fully operational will mean that more and more people will be able to make use of the fantastic facility moving forward.

"We are here for the long term. My role is to deliver recovery to those who are wounded or sick across the South West, which includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and South Wales," Mr Easton added.

"Injury doesn't have to be on active service. It could be something incurred as a result of a car crash or a fall. But it also doesn't have to be a physical wound. It could be something like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

He went on to add that the range of people seen at the centre so far is very impressive, with veterans ranging from the age of 20 to 80 having come for help to get themselves on the road to recovery. He said that he was glad people now have somewhere to go to get this sort of help, fearing that in the past people who were suffering would have been somewhat "lost in the system". 

Sam Harris, the centre's health and wellbeing manager, said that one of the most important aspects of the help on offer is the fact that it allows people to try something new, encouraging them to think outside the box and look at new activities that can help them.

The sort of things that veterans are encouraged to try at the facility include the likes of scuba diving, paddle boarding and skiing, all of which come with help from special equipment. 

"It is giving them encouragement and providing them with the ability to do so. It is ability, not disability."

Elsewhere, a luxury leather goods business has launched a partnership with a military veterans’ training centre to offer courses to employees at the latter that will help them develop personal skills that will help them with their charity work moving forward. 

Mulberry has partnered with Active Plus in order to deliver personal development courses to people who work with Active Plus, which is a community interest company, where military veterans who have physical injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder, deliver courses that build confidence, motivation and life-skills. Military personnel are also able to visit the centre in order to build their own skills, confidence and wellbeing.

Brian Tregunna, Active Plus regional manager, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Mulberry. “Everyone was very enthusiastic, willing to learn and keen to improve. 

“Mulberry is committed to helping their employees achieve their full potential and that is very much in tune with Active Plus programmes and our use of personal coaching. 

“As well as helping the staff development of Mulberry, this was a great learning curve for our injured veterans, delivering a new project for a different customer group helped their confidence and belief in themselves, proving once again that veterans can inspire everyone.”