Tidy People: Valley Veterans – A Place to Belong Again

In this episode of Tidy People, we travelled to Ton Pentre to meet the remarkable community at Valley Veterans, an organisation that has been quietly changing—and saving—lives for almost 25 years.

At the heart of it all is founder Paul Bromwell, who set up the group after returning home from service and realising just how much help he needed himself. What began with Paul supporting a handful of local veterans has now grown into one of the most active and wide-reaching veterans’ organisations in Wales.

“You walk through that door and you’ll find what you’ve been missing.”

Paul’s message to anyone thinking about joining is simple.
When service ends, many veterans find themselves without the structure, camaraderie, and purpose that shaped their lives. Valley Veterans offers a place where those things return the moment someone walks through the door.

“We help each other. Whoever comes through that door gets help if they need it,” Paul says. “You’re not on your own anymore.”

For Paul, the work is deeply personal. After serving in the Falklands at just 18, he returned home a changed person, carrying the trauma of losing close friends and trying to navigate a world that no longer made sense. With support and treatment, he rebuilt his life — and decided to use that experience to stand beside others going through the same.

Camaraderie, banter and a space that feels like home

There’s no mistaking the atmosphere when you step inside Valley Veterans. Every table is full, every chair taken, and every conversation filled with laughter, teasing, and the kind of stories only those who’ve served truly understand.

Veterans from the Army, RAF, Navy and Welsh regiments sit side by side. Some are in their 80s, others recently left service after tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. What brings them back each week is the same thing: camaraderie.

As one member put it, “You talk a load of rubbish, you have a laugh, and you feel like you belong again.”

Alongside the banter is practical support. The group works closely with the NHS, Mind, St John Ambulance and many other partners who offer advice, health checks and guidance on everything from mental health to policing. It’s a lifeline for many who might not otherwise know where to turn.

Shared stories, shared struggles

Many members spoke openly about the difficulties they faced after leaving service—PTSD, grief, isolation, or simply feeling like they no longer fit in. For some, the barrier to walking through the door was huge.

One veteran described how his counsellor spent ages encouraging him to come:
“I didn’t have the confidence. But my wife arranged for someone to meet me outside. I walked in, sat down, and it felt like I’d known them all my life.”

Another explained that the group helped him start talking about his mental health for the first time. “There’s no judgement here. If something’s wrong, you talk about it. It makes everything easier to handle.”

A growing community supporting each other

Valley Veterans has grown so much that Paul and the team sometimes struggle to meet demand, but their commitment hasn’t wavered. Families, partners and children are welcomed, and the organisation continues to build strong partnerships with wider services to make sure help is available whenever it’s needed.

Paul’s proud of how far they’ve come — and of the lives they’ve saved along the way.

“If you help somebody else, you help yourself,” he says. “And that’s what this place is all about.”

Thinking of coming along?

Whether you served decades ago or recently left the forces, everyone we spoke to had the same message:

Walk through the door.
Try it once.
You’ll be glad you did.

Catch the full episode of Tidy People — available now as a podcast and vodcast.

Tidy People is brought to you by Trivallis Housing Association, celebrating everyday people making a big difference in our communities.

To contact us: comms@trivallis.co.uk