Veterans a step closer to taking over wing at Newport centre
Veterans with mental health issues could soon have another home in Shropshire under new plans.
Residential care was cut at the Audley Court Combat Stress centre in Newport last year, leaving those needing the services relying on Skype and one-off trips to speak with carers.
But after discussions with the board of the charity, veterans are now closer than ever to taking over one of the wings at Audley Court.
They hope they would be able to offer a safe space for veterans to visit, along with food, television and facilities for overnight stays.
Pete Neale, who started the Save Audley Court Facebook group, said it was now a matter of funding.
"It's going in the right direction," he said.
"Combat Stress are trying to be as helpful as they can.
"We're just waiting for the downgrade of D wing at Audley Court, then it's all go.
"We have a meeting again in March at Audley Court to finalise it all."
Mr Neale said that veterans would have access to the wing from Monday to Friday.
"We could use the TV room, kitchen and have overnight stays as well," he said.
Now the group is looking for supporters to help raise money for the cause.
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.
As well as fundraising, the veterans will now have to come up with plans for D wing. They will have to come up with a proposal for how to operate and maintain the wing, as well as its rules and times of operation.
People will also have to be assigned control of maintenance and finances.
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 a terrible disaster.”
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”.
