A Bolton-based charity which helps veterans is reaching out to more ex-forces members, but needs funding to help those in need of support.

Veterans Army is run by former soldier Ryan Yates, who set up the charity to provide support for ex-servicemen and women.

Recently, the charity was given use of the community advice building in Bolton Town Centre In order to take the pressure off probation services by supporting veterans into employment, mental health and reduce reoffending.

But the charity needs to raise £10,000 to get up and running for more than a few months or they cannot operate the new service or run at all.

Ryan said: “Everything we did before we are still doing now, but we are now branching out to help veterans on probation.

The Bolton News: Ryan Yates at the charity ball

“This will stop reoffending in Bolton, and we can help provide jobs, mental health support, educational courses and get then off the hamster wheel of offending.

“But we have no way of funding the project.”

The charity is now asking people to help them fund the new project.

Ryan, who took aid over to war-torn Ukraine, said: “It’s a massive challenge and is as big as what we did in Ukraine and is impacting my hometown.

“If you’re a veteran on probation, you don’t have a community and are not in touch with what is going on.

“With us they’ll find a community and will get any help they need.”

The Veterans Army have employers ready to take on veterans on probation as well as their own counsellor, drugs team and gambling support.

Ryan said: “We can get them back on the straight and narrow and out of the cycle.

“Sometimes they just want to come in and have a chat and a brew with someone else from their background.”

The charity recently held their annual charity ball for Remembrance Day on Saturday, November 18 and raised just over £2k.

Cllr Ryan Bamforth attended the event and said: “It's important that we recognise what Veterans Army have achieved in recent years, whether that be helping soldiers with their mental health, providing companion dogs for Veterans in need and building a safe Veterans community in Bolton.

“He attended the Festival of Horwich earlier this year after being nominated as one of the Mayor of Horwich's charities, any and all help for this charity saves lives. For that, we thank Ryan.”

To support the cause visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/veterans-army-sos-save-our-services or https://veteransarmy.co.uk/monthly-donations/?