A CENTRE which specialises in the rehabilitation of service personnel and veterans who have suffered mental or physical illness or injury has welcomed a new manager to drive the charity forward.

David McNeill, also a veteran who has served in operational tours in Afghanistan as a Captain between 2009 and 2013, took over the role before Christmas and is now looking forward to the challenges of leading Help for Heroes’ Phoenix House recovery centre in Catterick Garrison.

Mr McNeill, 34, said one of his priorities was to spread the word of what Phoenix House could do for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans to communities further afield, to reach potential beneficiaries who may not be able to travel to North Yorkshire.

He said: “Phoenix House is a wonderful facility but it is only a building – we want reach even more people who need support and let them know we can help them.”

He said he will also be giving the Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds campaign, which focuses on the mental illness and injury suffered by many during the course of their Armed Forces career, a major push.

He said: “It is so important we remove the stigma around mental health. We really drove the campaign last weekend and we got more than 200 calls from people looking for help, which is what we might normally get in a month.

“It shows that help is needed and we need to try and reach more potential beneficiaries who may still be struggling alone.”

Mr McNeill said as a sports enthusiast himself, he is keen to take part in some of the many sporting challenges taken on by Phoenix House staff and beneficiaries every year.

He is a Commonwealth gold and bronze medallist from his time as a professional rower in 2006 until he joined the Army in 2009.

He said: “Winning Commonwealth gold was an incredible experience – and it has given me first-hand experience of how sport can change your life for the better."

To find out about mental health support, leave a confidential message for the Hidden Wounds team at www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-support/hidden-wounds-contact-form; call 0808-2020-144 or email hidden.wounds@helpforheroes.org.uk.