A charity set up to help veterans has opened a centre in Pwllheli.

Woody’s Lodge is a charity that supports and mentors armed forces veterans and their families, reservists and emergency service personnel.

They also offer a signposting service making sure that the correct support is offered.

The charity, originally based at HMS Cambria, Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, is run by veterans with backing from help groups, whilst working in partnership with Project 360, an aged veterans programme.

Woody’s Lodge aims to bring relevant agencies together to offer support for housing, finance, wellbeing and health, organise meetings for veterans and create a meeting space.

The organisation was formed following the untimely death of Royal Marine Paul ‘Woody’ Woodland who, as a member of the Special Boat Service, was tragically killed in a training exercise in Pool Harbour in 2012. His family wanted a memorial to Paul and after meeting a group of local veterans in Penarth who needed a place to meet for a brew and a chat, they decided a drop in centre was the ideal platform for this.

Graham Jones, the project officer for Woody’s Lodge North Wales said: “The welfare of armed forces veterans, reservists and emergency service personnel, is something which I am extremely passionate about, but for me, the families are just as important.

“While there are a number of services available to help veterans through recovery, the families are sometimes forgotten about.

“I want to provide a safe and quiet environment for the wives, husbands, partners and children, along with veterans, to be able to enjoy and socialise with other families while giving them the appropriate support.”

A drop in centre is held the first Wednesday of the month at the Citizens Advice Centre, 12 Penlan Street, Pwllheli LL53 5DH, 1pm–3pm, so if you are a veteran, family member, reservist or emergency service personnel, please go along for a chat and a brew.

If you require any advice or support then please contact Graham on 01492 533954 or email him at [email protected].