Healing The Wounds charity marks first anniversary

The Healing The Wounds charity - which aims to help Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families – is marking its first anniversary.
“And it has been an amazing year,” said Healing the Wounds Executive Director Kevin Richards.
“We have come a very long way since the charity was first set up in the second week of December last year.
“We initially started with The Golden Grove Appeal and an inspirational idea to turn the historic Tywi Valley mansion into a convalescent home and PTSD treatment facility.
“Since then, we have made massive strides and have already raised £120,000 towards our PTSD treatment facility for Wales.
Mr Richards said none of this would have been possible without a huge amount of public support.
“Our aim is always to provide services within Wales to help members of the armed services and those connected to the services.
“This has struck a powerful emotional chord with the people of Wales, who appreciate the fact that the money they raise will be spent in Wales and will benefit our Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families.
“This is, of course, very different to the approach of other high profile armed services charities who collect money within Wales, but give little or no assurance that the money will be spent within Wales.”
The charity has now rebranded as Healing The Wounds after its initial launch as the Golden Grove Appeal.
“Our wish list still has the Golden Grove Mansion as our target for PTSD treatment facility and hopefully convalescence.
“But we have to be realistic and plan for the possibility that Golden Grove may not become available – or will have deteriorated to the extent that it is no longer viable for the project.
“The new branding simply reflects that fact. Our mission remains what it was at the outset – to raise funds for a suitable facility within Wales for the treatment of Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families, who are suffering from stress-related illnesses such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).”
Mr Richards said the charity’s fundraising efforts had expanded to all four corners of Wales and beyond, including many overseas donations during the last 12 months.
“It is very humbling to see the contributions made by people in Wales.
“We have had everything from charity concerts, sponsored parachute jumps, cycle rides, sponsored horse rides, swims and coffee mornings – you name it and people have done it.
“The generosity of people has been amazing. Some have simply sent in donations, others have devoted family parties such as Diamond Wedding Anniversaries to Healing the Wounds charity and have raised money that way.
“We are now well on our way to our first target and we will, of course, be keeping everyone up to speed with our charity’s work.”
The website is at http://www.healingthewounds.co.uk/

Notes:
Healing The Wounds) has been launched for the purpose of raising the funds needed to enable the purchase of a suitable facility within Wales for the treatment of our Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families, who are suffering from stress related illnesses such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and to provide a convalescent home to allow them to heal and recover from the traumas of conflict.
Golden Grove Mansion has become available for purchase with 100 acres of Country Park, which would provide a peaceful and beautiful environment that would be the perfect place for recovery.
However, if the sale of the property does not materialise, ‘Healing the Wounds’ charity will continue to raise the funds needed for the purpose of searching for an alternative suitable property to facilitate treatments and convalescence for our Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families. This is and shall always remain the prime objective of the charity
Golden Grove Mansion was actually used as a hospital for American troops during the Second World War. It was first built in 1560 as the seat of the Vaughan family, descendants of the Princes of Powys. Two hundred years ago it passed to Lord Cawdor and the present mansion was built in 1834. In later years it housed an agricultural college, but is now empty. There are more than 150 rooms and the basic structure is sound. It is a grade II* listed building within a 100 acre conservation area and the grounds include a wooded Country Park, a visitor centre and cafe.
The appeal is more than halfway towards its initial target of raising £200,000.
Donations can be made –
By post
To make your donation by post, please send a cheque payable to Golden Grove Appeal, together with your name address and post code to enable us to claim gift aid, to Golden Grove Appeal, 22 Abbey Road, Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, CF33 6HF.
Give in person at Barclays Bank
Call into any branch of Barclays and pay your donation into this account:
Golden Grove Mansion Appeal
Sort code: 20-84-41
Account number: 90516929