The CHORUS of conversation and laughter is infectious among the former military personnel as they gather at a farm in the Tamar Valley.

There they relax and recreate the camaraderie from their military days in a safe environment of an outbuilding called the Countryside Hub, set up to help them recover from isolation and trauma from conflict or non-service events.

They are supported by staff from the ‘Battling On’ project who are available for help and who organise activities such as walking, cooking, packing food hub boxes, horticulture and which also includes sharing skills and talks on issues like identifying other support benefits —all as part of a structured pathway.

While the former service personnel enjoy the company, sometimes they need to escape into the peace of Merryhue Farm, near Callington, which acts as a facility to support individual mental health and aid rehabilitation amid a collective of not for profit companies run under the umbrella of the Together We Can Succeed banner.

The farm also supports youngsters needing help engaging with education with the use of horticulture and animals (such as donkeys and sheep) and young people transitioning to adults who require support with training and getting jobs.

Another project called Grown That Way connects communities through engaging people with the land.

The farm is an apt place to care for military veterans because it was bought by the great grandfather of Nikki Connell, who founded the orgnisation and her sister Katie, who was seeking peace and solitude for his rehabilitation after World War One.

Andy Murray, veteran paratrooper with 15 years’ service, who saw conflict in both the Falklands and Gulf War, said: ‘I’m here because I suffered a massive shock after being told my advanced City and Guilds qualifications in joinery and carpentry was not worth anything to an employer — it seemed being a serviceman held me back.’

Shocked at being unable to get work matching his undoubted skills, he set up a taxi business in Cornwall, but things got worse for him when he suffered a serious car crash, which left him paralysed on one side.

Andy said: ‘I really feel at home here. It’s good to get back into the company of people who have served. I help advise other veterans with my carpentry skills which they provide here as part of preparing us for work or to take part more fully in life.

‘Playing a role like that makes me feel more worthwhile. At one time, stuck at home with no future, I felt it wasn’t worth going on. But the support I get here is really good for my wellbeing and morale.’

Sean Fraser, ex Royal Marine and now veterans’ services manager, along with Paula White, work with many charitable partners to provide for the many issues veterans face.

These include post traumatic stress disorder, loneliness and complex medical conditions.

He said: ‘The idea is to stabilise people’s morale and mental health needs, then get them to this hub and then work out a wellbeing recovery pathway.

‘It’s very much veteran-led, we work with them and one-to-one or small groups. We work with specialists through the the NHS and GP referral or charities like Op Courage, Improving Lives and Project Nova. Project Nova helps those who get involved in the judicial system, which can happen when they have mental health issues.’