Veterans in bid to fund Newport respite care centre
Fundraising has begun for a new respite centre for veterans in Newport.
Organisers behind Newport's Veterans' Respite Centre are aiming to raise £6,500 in the hopes of funding a thre- month trial at Audley Court.
Formerly run by Combat Stress, former residents of the centre will take on the running of the new group.
Pete Neale, who is leading the effort to set up respite care in Shropshire, said: "We are raising money for the Veterans' Respite Centre to give veterans with PTSD a respite from the on-going stress of life, and to be with other veterans so they can have the banter and laughs they need.
"This centre as been hard work to get to the point of our three-month trail with Combat Stress. Every penny is just for the centre - a place run by veterans for veterans."
Fundraising efforts began earlier this year, and go-ahead for the plans was received from Combat Stress bosses last month.
Veterans are already collecting funds towards the upkeep of D wing, including car boot sales.
There are also plans to set up a direct debit scheme to help support them.
Nearly 40 members of staff were made redundant across Combat Stress last year.
The charity’s chief executive Sue Freeth said cuts had to be made to its services else it risked closing down entirely.
“We do need to get back in the black, because if we don’t then we won’t be sustainable,” she said. “That would be terrible.”
But dozens of veterans came out in protest of the cuts, marching through Newport in October and again in December.
Without residential services, veterans said, their mental health issues meant that they posed a risk to themselves and those around.
The decision to stop residential treatment was part of a five-year restructuring plan which, the charity said, would “offer greater flexibility and accessibility to treatment so veterans can be supported more quickly."
