The SMSA interviews father-of-five, armed forces veteran and Comrie Shedder Tom Hollins (53) who following medical discharge from the army found his local Men’s Shed and is now embarking on a new venture—to set up a veterans’ hub a stone’s throw away from the Shed base at Cultybraggan Camp. Tom, originally from Belfast, had a military upbringing from day one, his dad was in The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) providing recovery and engineering support to British Army vehicles from land, air and sea and his brother was also in the Royal Air Force. Tom said: “I joined the Army Infantry Division and then in 1989 moved to the 1st Battalion Wessex Regiment as a mortarman and then a few years later transferred to the Royal Logistics Corps as a railhead operator.
“In 1996, I moved to the Territorial Army (TA) for four years before serving for 14 years (2000-2014) with the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) in an armed security role as a section commander/guard commander with a 14-man security section for the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment in Kent. In 2018, I moved into a recruitment role with the TA and then had a short spell back at MPGS before being medically discharged in 2022 as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which my father and brother also suffer from.
“I thoroughly enjoyed military life. I really missed the lads, the banter, the lifestyle. People say I am very regimental—of course I am, it is all I have ever known, we even have our own language, and I loved it! After 33 years in the army, I didn’t know what to do with myself—I had travelled all across the world, seen so many good things and a lot of bad but I still missed it. I had to find a way to move on.
“With my complex PTSD, I attended the Veterans First Point in Dundee and received great support from them and was also put on a 28-week Peers-to-Peers course so I could also help others.
“Life following discharge has been a roller coaster ride—both mentally, emotionally and physically. But then we moved to Crieff and I heard about Comrie Men’s Shed and quickly joined desperately seeking my get-up-and-go and comradeship.
“The Shed helped me to talk to other men and make connections. There were some veteran members and it was great to talk to people that could relate. Even though I am one of the youngest members, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of great Shedders with good life experiences to share and learn from.
“The Shed changed my life for the better and helped me feel at ease. I have met so many amazing people and it was a place I could concentrate on my own health and wellbeing.
“Comrie Men’s Shed is based at Cultybraggan Camp—a former WWII prisoner-of-war camp in one of 80+ Nissen huts (Hut 65) which was constructed to house up to 4,000 prisoners (formerly known as PoW Camp 21) and then became a training camp for the Ministry of Defence in 1948. The camp is now a thriving multi-use community resource run by the Comrie Development Trust.
“The Shed offers activities ranging from woodwork to bird watching including personal and community projects, repair/restore service, arts and crafts, IT skills, book clubs, leather-craft, photography and ham radio.
“I found however, meeting veterans in the Shed that they were all saying the same thing—there was no support in our area just for veterans and their families. Somewhere to go for help, advice and support.
“A lot of veterans come back shellshocked and/or with disabilities and struggle to readjust to society and find employment and don’t know where to turn. Many feel like an outcast, and suffer anxiety and feelings of loss and just need somewhere to go to chew the fat with someone who can relate to military issues. So, I decided to do something about it.
“The camp is such an ideal location with many opportunities and huge potential. In addition to the huts, there are 40 allotments, a community orchard, woodland, a gym, shops and local businesses too. There are also many volunteering opportunities including gardening, maintenance and offering tours at the museum. In the Shed and at the camp, you meet a wide mix of all lives and I had now made the decision to add a veterans hub to the list!
“I have undertook many courses including Mental Health First Aid and my past made me experienced to offer integrated support to veterans and their families including health and wellbeing support, funding advice, social activities, connections, advocacy, access to services and pension, employment, relocation and housing advice. I can also signpost veterans to programmes and partner agencies that I have built close links to.
“It has now been over a year trying to set up the veterans hub as a charity, piggybacking on the Shed. I have ‘pestered’ everyone in my path to get the hub up and running.
“The hub is now open and located in Hub 1 at the camp and open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but the long-term plan is to be open five days a week. The hub is really informal—like walking into a living room –and is somewhere veterans and their family members (whether they have served one month or 40 years) can come and chew the fat with someone relatable and access support.
“We can also send veterans on day trips such as the Wolverhampton Multi Sports and Activity Camps where they can do anything from wheelchair basketball to rock climbing. There is something for everyone.
“I say to people who are struggling—feeling withdrawn and pushed to one side—don’t look at the pavement, when you go out for a walk, look up, look around you and see new things. Say good morning to people you have never spoken to before on your daily walks, try something new. As we know in the Shed, it can take a while for people to open up. Take the time, build up trust and they will talk.
“On Remembrance Sunday 2024, we opened our doors and invited veterans from the armed forces and families to come and join us and had a buffet and refreshments. It was a great success.
“Chris from the Shed has been fantastic helping me out with the hub. We opened a little later than planned due to waiting on funding. We have a benefactor who has offered to pay our rent which will keep us going for the next five to six years.
“The Shed has such a great rapport in our area and as word gets out about the hub and its Scotland-wide service, we are hearing the same. We aim to reach and help as many people as we can.
“But, I said from the start of this venture, if I can help just one person feel happier and valued in themselves and move on at their own pace, then it has been a success.”
Please follow and support Comrie Men’s Shed and the Cultybraggan Veterans Hub on Facebook.