Army veteran joins team helping North Yorkshire former soldiers
AN ARMY veteran will help his former colleagues after joining a specialist team set up to improve the health of former soldiers.
Chris Childs is the latest member to join Healthy Horizons, which looks after the physical and mental health of army veterans aged 65 and older in Richmondshire, home of Catterick Garrison.
The team at Richmondshire District Council runs a healthy lifestyle programme which helps veterans with cooking, gardening and exercise. The free project also offers arts and crafts sessions including woodwork, creative writing, photography and painting to help improve people’s mental health.
It is part of the Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire project, which is funded by the Ministry of Defence’s Aged Veterans Fund.
The scheme is open to anybody aged 65 and over in North Yorkshire who has served in the Armed Forces, completed National Service conscription or worked in the Merchant Navy in support of the military.
The Healthy Horizons team run Step-by-Step, designed to boost people’s health by improving people’s eating habits and physical activity.
It also provides the Pop-up Shed, a series of therapeutic arts sessions designed to improve the mental health of former soldiers.
People can be referred to the Health Horizons team by family and friends or by health professionals.
For more information call 01748 829100 or e-mail exforces@ richmondshire.gov.uk.
Future events organised by the Ex-Forces Support project in North Yorkshire include an Avoiding Scams session on Thursday in Richmond.
It will be held from 10am to 1pm at The Swale Room, Mercury House, Station Road. Places can be booked by calling 01904 704177.
Grants are also available from for home repairs, mobility equipment for people in financial hardship. For more information log on to www.communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.