SHED FIRM THROWS ART LIFELINE TO POTTERY-LOVING VETERAN PAUL
Perth-based shed builders Gillies and Mackay has joined forces with local veteran Paul Wilkie to provide him with a pottery shed to help combat his chronic PTSD.
Paul has suffered from chronic PTSD since leaving the Armed Forces in 2012 after a long career which saw him serve in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.
His symptoms became so severe that they caused him to lose his wife, home, and job, before ending up living rough in a forest in Perthshire.
He has since settled in a lovely home in Guildtown with the first PTSD service dog in Scotland and has been advised that artistic therapy would be a positive outlet for would normally cost £3500 for the £900 grant to give him the space he needed.
The shed is now in-situ in Paul’s garden and he has started work on both his pottery and making crooks.
Paul said:“I cannot believe the generosity of Gillies and Mackay and thank SSAFA so much for helping me through this process.
“I am so grateful, thank you.” Paul joined the Royal Engineers in 1990 and worked in many units ranging from amphibious, combat, bomb disposal, armoured, and field park serving in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq before leaving in 2012.
His PTSD service dog Irma won the‘Most Caring Animal in the UK’in September 2017 for helping Paul in 2016, staying by his side whilst he was in a coma after gaining sepsis from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two conditions that were exacerbated due to Paul’s PTSD.
She wakes him up from night terrors and allows him to visit public spaces.
Cara Mackay, managing director of Gillies and Mackay, said:“A shed is an endless possibility of creativity, safety and wellbeing - Paul’s story is something we all know well and we’re honoured to be of service to him.
“It’s great to see the shed installed and Paul getting to start on his art therapy.
“We wish him all the best with it and hope that it offers him a relaxing space for his ongoing recovery.”