A new charity to help ex-servicemen and women back into civilian life has been launched at a glitzy dinner dance and auction in Monmouth.

And a fund-raising drive has been started to finance the vital work of R3 Cymru, Resettle, Recover Reskill, which will provide support, training and career development, and also help veterans suffering from PTSD.

Fifty guests, including Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Sage of the army recovery unit at Brecon, attended the dinner at Shire Hall.

Other guests included Councillor Brian Hood, Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council; Mayor of Monmouth Gerry Bright and charity trustees Cllr Liz Hacket Pain and Captain Andrew Jelinek of the Household Cavalry.

Charity supporters bid for lots such as a portrait painted by local artist Frances Pillay, a golf day, garage servicing and MoT, silverware, a meal at the Old Court in Symonds Yat, a ton of seasoned firewood, a Skirider and a log store.

Founder and chief executive of R3 Cymru, Andrew von Staufer, outlined the role of the new charity and emphasised the need to help personnel – and their families – with advice, counselling or therapy in the transition to civilian life if they were suffering from the effects of combat-related problems.

The charity would liaise with health services, social services, job centres and other services charities to provide essential links.

"We want to train soldiers, sailors and airmen who are coming up to discharge as a result of finishing a term of service or medical discharge and assess them both psychologically and educationally for careers that are principally concerned with the green economy and energy sectors as these offer the best opportunities for long term employment in Wales," he said.

For the full report on this story, see this week's Beacon (4th January)