Charity opens free Essex holiday home for veterans
Veterans and their families can stay for free
An Essex village will host a new respite holiday home for army veterans, giving them a place to unwind from stress and physical injuries.
The static caravan, located in Weeley, near Clacton, is one of three owned by charity UK Homes 4 Heroes: the Knights’ Retreat and the Hargold's Retreat are located at Weeley Bridge Holiday Park in Essex, and the Heroes’ Retreat is in Whitstable, Kent.
They're all free for former service people and their families to stay in.
Jimmy Jukes MBE, who founded the charity, says the idea for the holiday homes came about as a result of the Covid pandemic: "We do a lot with Chelsea pensioners and veterans and noticed their mental health during lockdown was getting into a really poor state, so in 2021 we bought Knights' Retreat...
"Last year we had 84 veterans and their families use the two respite homes we had available."
Michelle Thorpe, director of the charity, says the getaways offer former servicemen the chance to relax and de-stress from issues such as PTSD: "The fishing lake at Weeley Bridge has been really therapeutic for most of the lads that have visited us...
"Even those who don't like fishing have been going down to the lake and saying how much better it's made them feel just sitting there, gathering their thoughts and clearing their heads."
Jimmy echoed this sentiment, saying the homes are already helping soldiers who've struggled with their mental health: "We've had some amazing messages.
"Last week a veteran used our new home and his wife messaged us to say she'd got her husband back and it was the best he'd been mentally in years.
"Another couple came from Bournemouth for a holiday, they took a picture together and his wife told us it was the first time he's smiled in three years, so it's clearly working.
"That's really all we want - for them to work and help people."