A NEW veterans’ drop-in centre is to open in Southampton next week.

The new facility at Woolston Clinic in Woodley Road aims to meet the needs of all veterans who may be homeless, require access to health care, are looking to reunite with family, need a springboard into employment or require therapy and counselling.

The centre is the brainchild of Colin Gaylor, who served in the British Armed Forces from 1989 to 1995 and runs the Southampton Breakfast Club, where veterans and serving members of the armed forces meet for fun and support.

Thanks to Colin’s work and Solent NHS Trust, Southampton City Council and Caroline Hopper, armed forces covenant programme manager for the Solent area, the Southampton veterans’ drop-in centre will officially open on July 23 at 10am.

Colin, 55, from Southampton, said: “I didn’t realise how much support is needed when I started the breakfast club. It became evident that people need somewhere where they can go to get support.”

He said veterans will also be directed to other charities in order to receive all the support they need.

“It’s not about giving them a phone number, it’s giving them a cup of tea, talking to them,” Colin said.

And added: “If you give somebody a phone number they will put it in their pocket and forget it but if you are with them and help them make a phone call it would make a difference.”

The centre will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2pm to 9pm but Colin is hoping more volunteers will come forward to help keep the centre open six days a week.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: “The most important thing that people need to remember is that veterans served us and the country well and the least we can do is to provide them with the services they need. As a country we simply haven’t done well enough over the years and I’m pleased that now we have started.”