TWO North Yorkshire artists have been recognised for their work in using crafts and art to help injured servicemen and veterans on the road to recovery.

Chris Morgan and Di Williamson have received Hero Awards for the hours they have spent volunteering at the Help for Heroes northern recovery centre, Phoenix House, in Catterick Garrison.

Mr Morgan, who lives near Phoenix House, devoted many hours to a Workshop for Heroes project, taking on the challenge of raising £30,000 to build and equip a dedicated woodwork facility at Phoenix House.

Centre manager, Mo Usman said for the past 18 months, the valuable volunteer had driven across the UK to develop a network of corporate and individual supporters, collect donations of wood and equipment and attend fundraising tool auctions.

He added: “Chris has a vision for the blokes to be inspired by demonstrations from master woodsmen of many disciplines – from coracle building to bow-making and woodturning – and, as a result, gain new technical and creative skills and the confidence to produce their own pieces.”

Painter, Di Williamson who lives in Barton, has been a volunteer since 2012 when the charity operated from temporary premises while Phoenix House was being constructed. She set up an art workshop that has gone from strength to strength and goes out of her way to source materials and equipment that will appeal to residents and ensure that the art room environment is inspiring and therapeutic.

Mr Usman said she had helped the servicemen and veterans find a new way to express themselves.

He added: “She encourages them to ‘have a go’ and supports them in achieving amazing results on their road of discovery and recovery.”

They were presented with a framed Help for Heroes medal by the charity’s director of recovery, David Richmond, who said the centre could not operate as effectively as it did without its many volunteers.