Falklands veteran opens new facility for former police officers and military veterans

By Q Radio News

Falklands war veteran Simon Weston has officially launched a new support service for retired police officers and military veterans who've been impacted by their service here.

Brooke House Health and Wellbeing Centre is based in Brookeborough in county Fermanagh - however therapy can be offered at locations across the province.

It will provide the likes of retreat programmes, physiotherapy and social events - for those phyiscally or mentally affected and for their families.

Joan Clements is the centre Director:

Mrs Clements continued: "A unique and visionary project supporting retired police officers and military veterans who’ve been physically injured or psychologically impacted by their service has been launched.

It's a charitable project funded by the Chancellor through LIBOR funds. It will provide bespoke treatment and care through a range of support services.

This new scheme specifically seeks to support retired Royal Ulster Constabulary GC Officers, Reserve Officers, and their families, who currently reside in or were permanently based in the counties of Armagh, Fermanagh or Tyrone during their service pre-4 th November 2001.

The project will also support military veterans from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force post-2008, and their families, who reside in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

Therapies and treatments will be delivered within Colebrooke Estate and at various locations throughout Northern Ireland.

These include: residential respite and retreat programmes, trauma focused psychological therapy, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, nature based therapy, activity days and social events.

Joan Clements, Director of the Brooke House Health and Wellbeing Centre said: “I am delighted to be involved the launch of this new innovative service offering multi-disciplinary support to meet the assessed needs of individuals and their families in a unique and wonderful setting.

It is a great privilege to have had military veteran Simon Weston CBE as our guest speaker.”

Director Joan Clements.