HELP for Heroes' Plymouth-based Recovery Centre ended its first year on a high as those who the charity supports got festive at a Christmas party.

The event, which included fun festive activities, a quiz and raffle, rounded off 2014's 'Veterans' Fridays'; an initiative designed by staff at the centre to encourage wounded, injured and sick veteran and serving personnel to see what is on offer at the facility within Devonport Naval Base and try something new.

Throughout last year servicemen and women were able to access countless activities ranging from sports such as paddle boarding, scuba diving, skiing, swimming, badminton and volleyball to wellbeing classes, including adaptive yoga, pilates, classical rebounding, art and cookery.

Welfare support is also on offer, including financial, careers and accommodation advice from Help for Heroes' Support Hub team and a number of partner charities as well as guidance on applying for grant funding for training courses and sports equipment among others.

More than 200 people have made use of the centre, which features a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, state-of-the-art gym and café, since it officially opened in April. This number grows each month as word spreads of the help on offer to current or former forces personnel who qualify across the South West.

The centre is run by former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Jock Easton from Mary Tavy who has seen the project through from the fundraising stages to now. He said: 'It's incredible to see what the team has achieved in the last year. We first opened our doors in December 2013 and moved to officially open in April 2014.

'The growth we have seen both in terms of what we can offer and of the people who use the Recovery Centre is phenomenal.

'We've seen people who never thought they could do certain things again surpass their expectations and regain confidence.

'Recovery is an ongoing process and we're here to provide that support for life. Our need to help doesn't stop just because troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan. There will always be a battle for those who have physical or mental wounds from serving our country.'

The Help for Heroes Plymouth-based team is looking forward to what this year will bring and is urging those who have become wounded, injured or sick in service to make contact to see what support is on offer for those across the South West. The team can be contacted by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or calling 01752 562179.

l Help for Heroes estimates up to 75,000 men and women may need support following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The needs of ex-servicemen and women in 2015 will grow.

To support the charity visit http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk">www.helpforheroes.org.uk by donating, fundraising or taking part in a number of charity-led challenges, including Hero Ride 2015, which will see a number of local people join a cycle route from Devonport Naval Base through to Windsor where they will link up with other teams from around the country for the event climax. To register visit the website above.