A RECOVERY centre which helps injured and struggling veterans has suspended face-to-face contact with clients and closed its doors.

Chavasse VC House, in Colchester, which is run by the military charity Help for Heroes, offers physical and psychological support for veterans and serving military personnel.

While the charity will continue to offer support through telephone and Skype calls, it has temporarily closed and ceased face-to-face sessions.

Clients will still be able to access welfare assistance, counselling sessions and advice from the charity’s team of qualified nurses.

The charity has also announced plans for virtual sports, health and activity programmes.

Julian North, recovery manager for East and South at Help for Heroes, said: “Whilst we are not a crisis service, we are supporting people in crisis and we appreciate that this is a time of national and global crisis.

“As such we are committed to supporting those who need us through this unprecedented time.”

The charity’s stance will be reviewed between now and June and face-to-face support will resume in line with Government advice.

Mr North added: “Our psychological services are largely unaffected and being delivered right across our region as are welfare and clinical services.

“Accessing services is really quick and easy online or by phone and our response is incredibly fast.

“We have now made it even easier and quicker for new beneficiaries to reach the right sources of support.

“Issues such as anxiety and social isolation can feel overwhelming at times like this so it’s important to us that we do all we can to help.”

Mr North said the charity is also interacting with its beneficiaries through its social media platforms.

Help for Heroes will add content to its website this week to specifically help people manage anxiety and adapt to the changes.

For more information on how the charity will adapt to the coronavirus crisis, visit helpfor

heroes.org.uk.