A NEW group named after a Bolton soldier killed in Afghanistan is hoping to provide support for the most vulnerable in the community.

Supporters of The Darren Deady Welfare Unit, in Westhoughton, say while they are named after a soldier, they are dedicated to helping anyone.

Kingsman Darren Deady, 22, died in September 2010 from injuries he suffered in Helmand Province a month earlier.

And the welfare unit named after him hopes to help build communities for the proud soldier from Westhoughton.

Christine Holden, general co-ordinator, said: “Both me and my husband Nick have been volunteers for the past three years at the Bolton Armed Forces Centre.

“While we were there, we decided that we wanted to create a group that wasn’t only restricted to veterans, as we wanted to expand to the wider community.

“We have hit the ground running which has been great. I have a lot of contacts from my times with the armed forces centre so was able to put them to good use.”

The group, which has only been running for the past couple of weeks, hopes to provide many services for people across Bolton and to help connect outlying villages.

These include signposting to vital services, helping set up appointments and getting people on to training courses.

The group already has a handful of volunteers dedicated to the group, including several veterans.

Christine added: “We will be signposting to different things, providing food for those who need it and we are even in the process of setting up an allotment in Horwich and Westhoughton.

“We will be taking less fortunate kids there to teach them about fruit and veg and how to grow them.”

While based in Westhoughton, Christine says the group will still strive to help those further afield.

They also hope to connect places, also including Horwich and Blackrod, who Christine says can feel isolated from Bolton.

She said: “This is just another community group to help. Everyone from Westhoughton is very passionate about Darren, so it is very fitting to carry on his named in this way and have something for veterans and people to be proud of.”

A JustGiving page has been set up to help the group in its early days, which can be found online.