Consultancies pool efforts to help forces charity

Two North West PR consultancies, Melville PR and Boxed Off, have joined forces to help raise the profile of a charity which supports injured former services personnel and their families.

Mark Perry of Melville PR and Richard Clein of Boxed Off are working on a pro-bono basis to support Sanctuary for Veterans, which is hoping to raise

£3.25 million to build a respite and rejuvenation centre near Tarporley.

The charity recently had national profile after featuring on the BBC 2 programme ‘Permission Impossible – Britain’s Planners’, which followed the challenges of gaining planning permission for the project for 23 lodges and a Centre of Excellence.

Injured former service personnel, and their families, will be able to visit the facility to help them meet the challenges of life outside the forces and support their transition into civil life.

Mark Perry, Director at Melville PR, said: “There is a compelling story behind the charity born out of the founder’s personal experience and it has generated strong interest within regional and national media.

“Joining forces with Richard on this project has meant that we could work to maximise the opportunities provided by the charity’s appearance on national TV.”

Richard Clein, Director at Boxed Off, added: “It is planned to continue to build Sanctuary for Veteran’s profile as it moves to reach key landmarks in its drive to raise funds.”

It is hoped that building work will start this summer for an opening in of the centre in 2015.