A NEW charity is being launched in response to the Shoreham Airshow disaster to offer help to people suffering from trauma.

Healing The Brave is being established to offer support for workers struggling in the aftermath of witnessing distressing scenes in the line of work.

The charity hopes to raise £10,000 from its first event, a free family funday, on Brighton seafront this weekend.

Charity co-founder Neil Sykes, who runs the Modern World Gallery in Madeira Drive, said the charity had the potential to match Help For Heroes.

Its focus will be on supporting the brave which includes military personnel, paramedics, firefighters, police, lifeboat crew, mountain rescue personnel.

The newly-founded organisation will seek to offer free and comprehensive counselling for those workers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or “moral injury”.

It is also hoped that those receiving support from the charity will then volunteer and pass on their support and experiences to others in a similar situation.

Mr Sykes said that currently most charities offering this service only focused on the armed forces but Shoreham had highlighted the need for a charity with a wider remit extending to a whole range of professions including tow truck drivers.

He said staff at Westbourne Motors were still struggling to come to terms with having had to remove vehicles from the Shoreham Airshow disaster crash site.

Mr Sykes said: “After the Shoreham Airshow disaster, we saw a need for a charity that helps people suffering from trauma.

“Most at the moment just have a focus on the armed forces but there is also a need to help local emergency services and other workers.

“It will be Sussex based at first but I can see this going national.

“Help For Heroes started off in a very small way, very locally and now it’s grown into a international, multi-million charity.”

The charity is currently in the process of completing its application to the Charity Commission but has been given permission to start operating.

The family fun day will be held this Sunday between 10am and 8pm with organisers being granted special permission to use the middle terrace in Madeira Drive.

It will include live performances by bands and an online raffle with prizes including a £3,000 1967 Vespa scooter and a holiday to Spain.

For more information visit healingthebrave.org