THE MS for Clwyd West is backing plans for the development of a new centre in Denbighshire which will help support veterans and allow them to gain new skills.

Darren Millar MS, who is also chair of the Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces and Cadets, visited Gwalia in Llangynhafal to meet with Graham Jones of Woody’s Lodge.

It is a charity that supports veterans, reservists, emergency services personnel and their families.

With the support of Kingspan, Woody’s Lodge is planning to develop a centre at Gwalia where veterans and their families can come to receive support, encouragement, develop new skills and enjoy the great outdoors.

Speaking after his visit, Mr Millar said: “Woody’s Lodge is already providing vital support to those who have served by providing a meeting space where they can re-engage with their lives and relationships and I applaud Graham and his team for all they are doing.

“I am therefore delighted that they now want to build on the support they already offer with a new centre at Gwalia.

“As I have said many times over the years, we owe it to those who sacrifice so much for our country, to provide them with the very best services and support and this centre would do just that, supporting not only the veterans themselves but also their families.

“The plans have my full backing and I will support Woody’s Lodge in any way that I can in their development. Veterans in North Wales are very fortunate to have Graham and the team fighting their corner.”

A spokesperson for Woody's Lodge said: "We’re really delighted to announce that thanks to funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust’s Positive Pathways grant and a generous offering of use of the land at Ty Gwalia by the owner, Dr Richard Mottershead, that Woody’s Lodge will be opening a fourth hub at Ty Gwalia, Denbighshire.

"We already have developed three major rural-based hubs in South, North, and West Wales plus 11 Urban Drop-in Centres throughout Wales with more planned to open soon, COVID-19 allowing."

Ty Gwalia is situated in a rural location at the foot of Moel Famau in Denbighshire, consisting of three acres of non-agricultural land with private housing occupied by Veterans sited within the grounds.

The spokesperson added: "The owner of Ty Gwalia, Dr. Richard Mottershead, has given us long-term access to Ty Gwalia as a rural centre to develop our work in supporting the Armed Forces and emergency service’s communities and their families.

"Ty Gwalia will allow Woody’s Lodge to establish a rural support hub in North Wales with a potential for it becoming the main hub for the region in the future. In the three years that Woody’s Lodge has been open, we have hosted more than 8,700 veterans and have provided support to more than 2,800 beneficiaries in a wide variety of ways.

"We will utilise Ty Gwalia in several ways, including; as a central gathering point for veterans wishing to take part in activities such as hill walking, cycling, angling and more and for a gardening project aimed at teaching about sustainability and seeding.

"We can’t wait to welcome veterans, emergency service leavers and their families to Ty Gwalia."