A centre that provides a 'home from home' for service personnel in need of temporary accommodation has received a boost to its facilities with the donation of a new minibus.

The Services Cotswold Centre, in north Wiltshire, provides temporary housing for families of serving personnel who are between postings, retiring, have welfare issues or are the subject of emergency evacuation from overseas.

In addition to the arrival of the new minibus, donated this week by the Army Benevolent Fund Soldiers' Charity and The Variety Club, the centre is also celebrating the recent opening of two newly completed chalets adapted for use by injured personnel and their families.

Stability

Soldiers, their wives and children often arrive at the centre with few belongings and rely on the facilities at the site to give them a period of stability before they move on.

The site has 60 single-storey, centrally-heated, three-bedroom chalets and converted flatlets as well as its own school and community centre.

Commandant of the Services Cotswold Centre, John Wyatt, said the new additions would make life better for all who use the centre: "What we offer here is secure and safe accommodation in a military environment. Soldiers and families have security and a home while they need it. And, if they need help they know they are in the right place to get it.

"The new minibus will be used to take the families out and about. It will get a lot of use by the school to take the children on outings. It will be a real benefit to the families in general. We can also now easily accommodate injured soldiers from Selly Oak Hospital and Headley Court in our newly adapted quarters."

Essential transport

The ABF Soldiers' Charity has provided lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families for 66 years and has a longstanding relationship with the centre. The new minibus, which has been adapted for disabled use, will support the centre's new chalets, providing essential transport for wheelchair users, when needed.

The Variety Club has had an association with the ABF Soldiers' Charity for 45 years and donates money to support many projects, especially those providing for disabled and disadvantaged children. Among its work, the charity provides Sunshine Coaches, Easy Riders electric wheelchairs and equipment for children’s hospitals.

The minibus was officially handed to the centre at a special presentation held on Tuesday, 23 February, when Lady Fiona Wall, wife of Commander in Chief Land Forces, General Sir Peter Wall, received the keys.

Lady Wall said: "I want to say a huge thank you on behalf of the Services Cotswold Centre for this generous donation. The difference it will make to the people living here is huge - it is essential when most of the people here do not have any way of getting around."