A CENTRE that specialises in the mental, physical and emotional recovery of service personnel and veterans has today (Wednesday) celebrated its first anniversary.

Help for Heroes’ northern recovery centre Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison has helped hundreds of wounded, injured and sick veterans and personnel, as well as their families, in the last year, and manager Mo Usman said he was incredibly proud of what his team has achieved.

He said the party mood at Phoenix House today was today bolstered by the visit of the group of centre-users returning triumphant from the recent Invictus Games with a stash of medals to join in the birthday celebrations.

But he is determined to see the success of Phoenix House grow even further.

“This year has gone very fast – mainly because of the multitude of activities we have put on – and we want that to continue into our second year,” he said.

“Support is a very important factor in what we do, and it is often the welfare side of our job behind the scenes that does the most for centre users and their families.

“We are still developing and will continue to do so – not because what we are doing is not up to the standard we want to be at but because we are constantly pushing to do more and to keep growing.”

Mr Usman said his main challenge was still to spread awareness of the centre, so it can help more veterans and personnel get on the road to recovery.

He said: “The work of all of us at Phoenix House is a long-term challenge – there are no quick fixes for recovering veterans and serving personnel.

“We want the public to be aware that even if the war is ending it doesn’t mean that people don’t still need support.”

In the last year the centre has supported wounded, sick and injured personnel and veterans take part in demanding challenges such as Iron Man events, triathlons, an Edinburgh to London Hero Ride; Front Line to Start Line Paralympic assessments for veterans; and last week’s Invictus Games.

Mr Usman said: “I’m so proud of all the success of our centre-users.

“For someone who comes to us and thinks: ‘I’ve lost my legs and an arm, what can I do?’ We can show them they are still capable.

“And if they have a talent for swimming, wheelchair rugby or archery, then we can make sure they have the equipment needed to give them boost to know they can do it.”

As well as sport, Phoenix House offers creative activities and hopes to stage a performance of Grease next year.

To donate to the Northern Echo’s £100,000 appeal for a performing arts centre at Phoenix House, visit www.bmycharity.com/100kfor100yearsNorthernEchoAppeal; or donate by cheque, accompanied by the form at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/files/31397, to Phoenix House, Richmond Road, Catterick Garrison, DL9 3AW.

It is important that you use the form in order to ensure that your donation is ring-fenced for Phoenix House.