Scotland’s first support hub for former members of the armed forces and blue light services was officially opened in the Borders this week.
The First Light Trust facility, made up of a charity shop selling ex-army clothing, bric-a-brac and books plus Sharpe’s Coffee Shop, moved into the former It’s Great outdoors shop at 1-3 High Street, Hawick, earlier this year and was officially opened by Hawick’s honorary provost, Councillor Watson McAteer, this week.
Mr McAteer said: “The trust is already looking after more than 1,700 veterans and their families across the UK. Its purpose in life is to create a meeting point and develop a community of those who may need help, having suffered physical, emotional and psychological distress.”