AN ex-serviceman who has made it his mission to support fellow veterans adjust to life outside the military by starting his charity is now hoping to set up the organisation’s HQ in Colchester.
Gary Stockton has already helped hundreds of people cope with leaving the military, having set up the Phoenix Heroes charity in 2018.
Now, he is hoping to expand the operations further by setting up a permanent base in a city where thousands of veterans have settled over the years.
An ex-serviceman himself who spent 22 years in the Royal Logistics Corps, Mr Stockton is planning to use land which is owned by the Lakelands Community Centre in Stanway, Colchester.
He said: “Phoenix Heroes formed in 2018 with a core focus of supporting veterans, armed forces and families.
“We’re mental health driven and what we have done over the last six years is form a carp angling community, and that’s grown from strength to strength.”
The new facility, which could be built later this year should an application be approved by Colchester Council, will be used to host community events for ex-servicemen and women and their families.
He said: “In January 2023, we were informed Peter Dutch was the preferred tender for the Lakeland Community Centre, and with an expiration of interest, we were nominated to build a veterans’ base camp consisting of two buildings and an allotment area with the aim of that becoming part of the Colchester community.”
The work will not require spending millions on building contractors, however, given many of the Phoenix Heroes trustees are tradesmen.
He said: “Within Phoenix Heroes, a lot our trustees have skilled trades.
“People running their own companies, so it will be built by veterans – the people coming down to start this off are veterans.
“We are still going through the planning phase but we will know a lot more by the spring – that’s when we would look at starting.”
“There will be a tranquil garden and community hub and office – for us, this is a major milestone in what we have been doing over the years, because in the past five years it's been more of a mobile base camp.
“It will give the armed forces a community to go to, and it becomes a safe place for them and a place where help and support can be given through a core service, or, we can refer them to core organisations that can help them find the right support.”
The difficulties encountered by ex-servicemen coming out of the military are well known, and helping others deal with those challenges is something Mr Stockton, who is now in his 50s, wants to be a key part of.
He said: “My own experience of leaving the forces, regardless of how long you’ve searched… there’s a period when you feel lost, and that sense of belonging and being part of a safe community has gone.
“There’s a lot of organisations out there where veterans can get support, but it can be complex and confusing to go to the right organisation for the needs the individual requires – sometimes that can be off putting, because having that routine makes you feel safe and confident.
“This allows us to become more structured for our volunteers, and help more veterans and armed forces members.
“We want to offer that blueprint to other organisations across the UK and let them know what we have done and that it’s achievable.
“We have been given the opportunity to go to the next level to secure the permanent hub that we can use to make a difference to hundreds of people.”
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