High Street veterans' hub Charlie Charlie 1 offers sanctuary to warriors in need
Former warriors have had camaraderie and stability brought to their lives thanks to the work of a new veterans' hub in West Sussex.
Charlie Charlie 1 is a high street outreach centre which was named after the radio call sign used in the Armed Forces meaning "everyone".
It is a place where former service personnel can connect and work through their difficulties.
Shane Glasspool was inspired to help the local veterans after losing a friend.
"A friend of mine committed suicide, Danny Johnson, and it was quite a big deal for a lot of us since he epitomised the true warrior," he explained.
"For him to take his own life sort of gave the rest of us a kick up the arse and made us realise that we needed to do something about it and stop it from happening again."
The hub is located on the High Street in Bognor Regis and offers old soldiers and younger veterans the chance to connect.
Through speaking with fellow soldiers and individuals who have experienced similar difficulties, people are given the opportunity to heal and reconnect with the community.
The project was set up by the Crimshaw Veterans Hub, which wished to put a "physical front" in the town centre.
Matthew Cole, a former member of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and a member of the hub, said: "So we already run the military rehabilitation and outreach from Crimshaw Farm, which is inaccessible to a lot of people.
"This is a physical front in the town centre so we can get to even more veterans and more outreach for the community.
"Then all the money we raise from this can then go back into the rehabilitation and outreach for the military work we do."
One person who has benefited from visiting the centre is Tony Nelson, who served in the Royal Artillery during the Malayan Emergency.
He credited the hub for transforming his life, and his daughter Lucy said it had helped save her father, who was her "best mate and hero".
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