A TRUSTEE of a Barnsley veterans’ charity has been presented with an award for his “great and valuable’ services to the community.

Andrew Martin, of Help 4 Homeless Veterans, was presented the award by John Baddeley, High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, at Rotherham Town Hall last week.

Andrew, a disabled veteran from Thurnscoe, has been supporting fellow veterans for ten years with the charity.

He said: “I’m really happy to be recognised, even though I don’t do it for that - I do this work because I want to.”

Andrew and his late wife Diane ran the charity’s drop-in centre for two years.

He now helps veterans that come to the charity seeking help with referrals for housing and medical help, and also helps with referrals to other charities.

He added: “As a veteran myself who went though the systems, I feel my role in referrals is good as when people find out that I can share their experience, it helps them trust us.”

Andrew had major spine surgery in 2006 which left him unable to walk, before becoming paralysed from the waist down in 2014, which left him reliant on the welfare and benefits system.

He hopes that he can continue to use this and his new found recognition, as a way to carry on helping veterans who need help.

“If other vets know I’ve been awarded, it gives me more credence.

“Even though I don’t do it to be recognised, it lets vets know that I’ve been recognised for good work which helps them.”