Newly established armed forces veterans charity Woody’s Lodge, based at HMS Cambria near Cardiff, has announced a funding and development partnership with Masons Moving Group Ltd.

The announcement was made at the charity’s launch event held at HMS Cambria on 28 September attended by representatives from the Welsh government and the military, as well as health and social welfare agencies.

Woody’s Lodge is named after local Penarth raised, Royal Marine and member of the Special Boat Service, Paul ‘Woody’ Woodland, who, sadly lost his life whilst in service with the Royal Navy in 2012.

The charity, described as a communications and social hub, is the brainchild of local RAF veteran Russ Kitely, and has taken over two years in the planning. Thanks to the support of the Royal Navy in Wales and RFCA (Royal Forces and Cadets Association), Woody’s was established during February 2017. Since then the charity has received over 1200 visits from veterans of all ages from the Vale and Cardiff areas. Woody’s also acts as a base from which 20 charitable and statutory agencies can work, including The Royal British Legion, NHS, Department of Works & Pensions, Recovery Cymru, NEXUS, Barnardos and SSAFA.

Dr David Trotman, Woody’s CEO said, “The offer of support from Masons Moving Group is a significant step in our development at Woody’s. It will make a real positive step towards our current and future support of armed forces veterans and those from the emergency services, now using and planning to use Woody’s Lodge."

Gordon Mason, Director at Mason’s Moving Group Ltd, said, “We are delighted to support Woody’s Lodge in its endeavour to give support and advice to armed forces veterans and those from the emergency services. The philosophy of this new charity is close to our heart at Masons, as our father Eric Mason, was himself an RAF veteran and we have a long history of moving members of the RAF, army, navy, and their families, around the UK and across Europe. This continues on today through Masons franchise arrangements with Bishop's Move. When we first heard about the work that Russ Kitely was initially involved in, we wanted to be part of it in some way, and we are now looking forward to helping Woody’s Lodge grow and thrive.”

Photo: Gordon Mason, (second from the left) with members of the Woody’s team.