A company who supplies, services and repairs dental and medical equipment has pledged its support to veterans charity Launchpad.

Cornwall-based Promets Limited, service and test autoclaves, compressors, X-ray equipment and Anaesthetics that are commonly used in dental practices across the country. Chiropodists, tattooists, veterinary surgeries and the military are also clients of the company.

The owners, Ian Mansfield and Martin Cracknell, both served in the Royal Navy as weapons engineers and eventually decided to go into business together when they left the military.

Ian initially bought a share in the company 11 years ago and when he found out that Martin was also leaving service a year later, he approached him with an offer to go into business together.

Now, the business is growing from strength to strength and as two former serving personnel, they wanted to give something back to charity.

Ian commented:

“I served 29 years in total in the Royal Navy as a weapons engineer. I served on several ships before finishing my time on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Argus. Later in our military careers, Martin and I also completed Medical and Dental Servicing Section training.

“I served one tour of Afghanistan and The Gulf and know first-hand what colleagues go through when they transition from the military to civilian life. It can be difficult and this is why charities like Launchpad should be supported. Both Martin and I wanted to give something back and we have committed to making a monthly donation to support the work they provide to veterans who have found the transition difficult for one reason or another.”

David Shaw, CEO and Co-founder of Launchpad, said:

“We are very grateful to Ian and Martin for their ongoing support of our charity. We rely on personal and corporate donations to help us continue to provide the services our residents need and their regular donations will contribute towards the maintenance and running costs of our three houses in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham.”

Promets Limited works nationally, providing services to clients from Penzance to the Shetland Islands.

Launchpad provides vital accommodation and support for up to 100 veterans from all over the UK across three houses in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool and helps veterans who have found the transition from the military to civilian life difficult.

The charity, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has supported more than 600 veterans since 2013. 90% of the veterans who arrive at Launchpad are homeless and on average over the last five years, 61% of residents successfully moved on while 41% gained employment whilst at Launchpad.

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s about encouraging people to have conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. We all have mental health and by talking about it, we can support ourselves and others.

Launchpad is supporting today’s campaign as it gives charities such as ourselves, the opportunity to raise awareness of the work we do to support veterans by working with and supporting them on their mental health issues.

Many of the residents living at all three Launchpad houses in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool have mental health issues, ranging from anxiety to service and non-service-related PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Some need help with addictions to gambling, alcohol and drugs.

Our specialist case workers help residents with their mental health and provide one-to-one support.

We encourage residents to talk about problems they are experiencing and to take part in activities that support their mental health and wellbeing.

Our project managers in each house encourage residents to participate in activities to improve their mental health and wellbeing such as mindfulness, arts projects and outdoor sports.

Time to Talk Day was launched in 2014 by Time to Change, a campaign to end mental health stigma and discrimination, which was run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with the Co-op.

Make space in your day today to have a conversation about mental health this Time to Talk Day.

VIVO signs partnership with life-changing veterans’ charity Launchpad

VIVO Defence Services is partnering with Launchpad, a charity helping veterans who need extra support making the move from the armed services to civilian life.

Launchpad provides accommodation and other assistance for those who have left the forces regardless of when they made the move.

The charity has helped more than 600 veterans over the past decade, providing accommodation at locations in Durham, Liverpool and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

More than 90 per cent of armed forces veterans seeking support from Launchpad are homeless and need a safe, accepting space while they make the move into civilian life.

In addition, many have mental health issues ranging from anxiety to service and non-service-related PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

VIVO, which provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military, has agreed a two-year corporate partnership with Launchpad, which includes providing £10,000 corporate sponsorship.

VIVO’s funding will help Launchpad provide support to the armed forces community in a variety of ways, including mental health support, career training and advice and accommodation for homeless veterans in need.

VIVO has also committed to arrange for its employees to visit Launchpad’s locations to provide workshops, job training and advice on seeking employment.

David Shaw, CEO and Co-Founder of Launchpad, said:

“We are extremely grateful to Vivo Defence Services for their support.

 

“As a charity, it is important we work with corporate partners to support our resident veterans on their journey and to help them to live independently.

 

“We are looking forward to welcoming their employees into our houses to work with our residents and provide a range of training and employment opportunities.”

Jerry Moloney, Managing Director at VIVO Defence Services, added:

“As a major provider of maintenance services to the UK military, it is important to us that we help those who have served our country when they leave the armed forces.

 

“We already have a target in place of at least 20 per cent of the new people we employ having a military connection and we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for armed forces’ leavers.

 

“Our partnership with Launchpad will help provide important life changing support for veterans who need extra assistance to ensure their move to civilian life is as successful as possible.”

VIVO – a joint venture between Serco and Equans – works solely for the UK military and its partners providing asset and facilities management services as well as maintenance for the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and the United States Visiting Forces (USVF) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

Veterans’ charity Launchpad has appointed a new independent living co-ordinator to support residents once they have moved on.

Mary Douglas has been appointed by the charity and will signpost residents who have resided in both North East houses, in Newcastle and Durham, to help them successfully transition to living independently.

Launchpad provides an extensive range of accommodation and support, with the help of specialist providers, to support homeless veterans who have fallen on hard times and have found the transition from military to civilian life difficult.

Residents living at Launchpad’s Avondale House in Byker, Newcastle, and Hollyacre House in Sacriston, Durham, are supported for up to two years (longer if necessary) but once they leave, many struggle with loneliness, recurrent mental health, addiction, financial and tenancy problems, which, if unaddressed can cause them to lapse back into homelessness.

Mary will continue to support those residents to ensure they go on to thrive and don’t fall back onto hard times by linking them with support they need from a variety of providers. This tailored support will help them to access the benefits they are entitled to as well as helping them to manage their finances, secure their tenancy, gain support for their mental health issues and wellbeing, as well as encouraging them to find employment.

Her role is being funded by Nationwide Building Society’s Community Grant Scheme, with the aim of supporting up to 70 veterans over two years. The community grants programme was established to help society’s most vulnerable people by funding charities and housing projects that prevent people from losing their home, help people into a home or support people to thrive within the home environment.

Mary has a wealth of experience and knowledge working with veteran communities and spent 14 years at British Legion, working as a welfare officer before moving to her previous role at Finchale Training Group in Durham. Here, she helped to process applications for the Army Benevolent Fund but when they went into administration last year, Mary saw the vacancy at Launchpad advertised and had no hesitation in applying.

She said:

“I’ve known Launchpad from day one, when Avondale House opened in Newcastle in 2013 and have always admired their approach to supporting homeless veterans. The charity has expanded considerably over the years with the addition of Speke House in Liverpool and more recently, Hollyacre House in Durham and I’m looking forward to working with all residents to support them with their move on. I have many years of working with the veteran community, so I am familiar with some of the difficulties they experience. It’s a rewarding job to be able to support veterans as they move on and help them to integrate back into society.”

Phil Thompson, Manager of Launchpad’s Avondale House and Hollyacre House, said:

“Launchpad supports homeless veterans from the moment they arrive, during their stay and in the future, we can help them ourselves or through local intermediaries once they have moved on if they wish. Residents need structure and we’ve found in the past that once they have moved on, some have fallen back on hard times and it becomes a vicious circle. I applaud Launchpad for their forward-thinking innovative approach. Residents become extended family so we don’t just close the door after they have moved on, they know we will support them long after they have left Launchpad – it’s a bit like a safety net for them.

 

“I welcome Mary to the team and know, with her knowledge and experience, she will be a great asset to supporting our residents. Initially, she will be supporting residents in our two North East houses, but we hope to be able to expand this service to our house in Liverpool in future. I’d also like to thank Nationwide and their Community Grant Scheme for providing the funding towards Mary’s post and supporting our veterans.”

90% of the veterans who arrive at Launchpad are homeless and since 2013, over 600 veterans have been supported. On average over the last five years, 61% of residents successfully moved on while 41% gained employment whilst at Launchpad.

At the beginning of the year, three fundraisers set themselves a challenge of walking 10K steps every day throughout January to raise awareness and funding for Launchpad – a charity that provides accommodation and support to homeless veterans.

Mandy Crompton, from Tayvallich on the West Coast of Scotland, has been clocking up the steps and enjoying long walks with her retired racing greyhound, Suilven.

Mandy who is also Launchpad’s Company Secretary started the challenge on New Year’s Day and is already smashing her daily target, reaching more than half of her target.

Mandy said:

“I heard about the challenge from one of our partners, Brendon Kenny and thought what a great idea. The 10K step challenge serves many purposes not only raising awareness and money for this wonderful veterans charity but it will also helps me stay focussed on being active and keeping fit throughout January plus, it’s any excuse to spend more time with Suilven.

 

“I got her in April 2021 from the Glasgow branch of the Greyhound Trust and she is just a dream to be with. She is 4 and was born in Ireland and moved to the UK for training. She ran 15 track races in Sunderland but retired in February 2021 following an injury.”

The 10K step challenge was initiated by Brendon Kenny, along with school friend Gary Pink.  They are two friends from Wallasey in Liverpool and have known each other since they were five years old.

Brendon is a business entrepreneur and Chair of the British Irish Trading Alliance (BITA) and thought up the challenge to kick start the new year by keeping fit and active while raising money for a good cause.

He persuaded his good friend and veteran Gary Pink to join him, who didn’t have to think twice about participating. Gary actively takes on challenges to raise money for charities and served 22 years in the Royal Navy as a weapons engineer. He was on several vessels including HMS York, Leeds Castle, Dumbarton Castle, Liverpool, Southampton, and Albion and covered tours in the Persian Gulf, Gibraltar and the Falklands.

Gary said:

“As a veteran, I know how difficult it can be to transition from service to civilian life and for some, they end up homeless which is just despicable in this day and age. These people have put themselves on the front line to serve their country and should never end up on the streets. If it wasn’t for charities like Launchpad which provides the specialist accommodation and tailored support these men and women need, then where else could they turn to?

 

“I’ve recently been raising funds for the RBLI and when Brendon told me about his challenge of walking 10,000 steps a day in January, I said I would join him and it will help me to achieve my New Year’s resolution of keeping fit and being more active while raising money for a brilliant charity close to my heart.”

You can support Mandy via her fundraising page at Just Giving at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/mandy10ksteps

Alternatively, you can support Brendon via his Just Giving page at: www.justgiving.com/page/launchpad-10000-steps

Launchpad provides vital accommodation and support for up to 100 veterans from all over the UK across three houses in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool and helps veterans who have found the transition from the military to civilian life difficult.

The charity, which is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, has supported more than 600 veterans since 2013. 90% of the veterans who arrive at Launchpad are homeless and on average over the last five years, 61% of residents successfully moved on while 41% gained employment whilst at Launchpad.

We’d like to wish all our partners a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!