IT’S BACK and it’s going to be even bigger and better!

We are pleased to announce details of this year’s Launchpad Armed Forces’ dinner.

Come and join us on Thursday 9th October at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel in Newcastle.

This year’s guest speakers are Andy Reid MBE and Dan Smith. Entertainment from Alfie Joey, three-course meal, raffle and auction prizes plus more!

Book your tickets today. £1,000 for a table of 10 or £100 per ticket. To book your place or donate a prize for our auction and raffle, please contact Jill Murray on [email protected].

All funds raised on the evening will be donated to Launchpad to enable us to continue to support homeless veterans.

Thank you to Esh Group who is once again our main event sponsor.

A Leicestershire-based construction company has backed a campaign to support homeless veterans in Durham.

Midland Rock, which service the construction industry, civil engineering industry and the general public with aggregates, waste removal, haulage, earthworks & contracting has pledged its support to sponsor a veterans flat at Launchpad’s Hollyacre House in Sacriston.

The company, which has secured a contract in nearby Durham, has donated £1,000 to the charity which will contribute towards any refurbishment costs and upkeep of one of the 15 self-contained, one-bedroom flats within the house.

Directors of the company visited Hollyacre House last week and enjoyed a tour of the house, met staff and residents and were presented with an engraved plaque to display in their head office, demonstrating their commitment to supporting homeless veterans.

Midland Rock has extended its support to veterans by applying to sign up to the Defence Employee Recognition Scheme, stating their intent to be supportive towards defence personnel and support those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families.

The company has demonstrated its commitment to supporting veterans by providing employment opportunities on existing contracts. With five veterans working on three different sites through the Amey Briggs agreement, the management are keen to extend their support to Launchpad by offering residents living at Hollyacre House, the opportunity to gain training and employment opportunities.

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

“We are very grateful to Midland Rock for supporting this campaign and sponsoring a room. The average cost to turn around a void flat for a new resident to move in is £2,000 which includes the costs for any removals and disposal of old furniture and fixtures, redecoration and safety checks. This is a cost to the charity so the campaign helps us to alleviate any burden and will enable us to refocus additional funds to other areas of the house.

 

“Working with corporate partners such as Midland Rock enables us to continue to provide the service our residents need, and we are looking forward to exploring other activities and initiatives with them.”

Mark Mortiboy, Operations Director at Midland Rock is an Army veteran of 24 years’ service in the British Army’s Corp of Royal Engineers. He commented:

“I’m really pleased to be in a position to help our fellow Veterans and along with my connections hope to be able to make an impact on getting them into the construction industry, which is in some similar ways just like the Military camaraderie.”

Launchpad provides vital accommodation and targeted support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans who have struggled with their transition to civilian life. The charity manages three houses in Liverpool, Newcastle, and Durham and accepts veterans from all over the UK providing accommodation for 98 homeless veterans.

Demand for specialist veteran’s accommodation and services is increasing, with 361 homeless veterans’ approaching, or being referred to Launchpad (across all three houses) in 2024 alone.

Chris Longstaff has been appointed as Deputy Manager at Avondale House in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Veteran Chris joins the charity after taking some time out of his working career and is responsible for providing cover while the manager is not on site but also oversees the running and financial aspects of the house, liaises with many of the partners that engage with Launchpad and works closely with the residents to develop their personal development plans.

Chris joined the Army in 2008 and served 6 years in the Royal Artillery. He left service in 2014 and worked as an HGV driver for 8 months before joining BT Openreach where he joined as an apprentice engineer and worked his way up to regional manager. He enjoyed a successful 10-year career at the company before deciding to have a short career break.

As a veteran, Chris understands the difficulties the resident veterans have when leaving service and for those who have fallen on hard times but he is looking forward to supporting the residents living at Avondale House to secure employment and to move on to a successful independent life.

Launchpad opened Avondale House on the Byker estate in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2013 providing 33 self-contained one-bedroom flats and communal areas for former serving personnel and their partners. The charity has three houses in the North of England in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham, providing accommodation for up to 98 homeless veterans who come from all over the UK.

Commenting on his new role, Chris said:

“Helping people has always been at my core and in this wonderful new role I now find myself, what better way to make that a reality. I am so excited to get started and support the residents.”

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

“I’d like to welcome Chris to the team and his enthusiasm and determination for the role is clear to everyone. He will be a great asset and I look forward to working with him.”

Demand for specialist veteran’s accommodation and services is increasing, with 361 homeless veterans’ approaching, or being referred to Launchpad in 2024 alone. Last year, Launchpad accommodated 171 homeless veterans during the year – an increase from 135 just 18 months ago.

Launchpad is going through a significant period of transformational change with a new strategy and business plan being developed.

Jill Murray took on the role as chief executive in August 2024 and is leading the charity through its biggest transformation to date.

The charity manages three supported housing schemes in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool providing self-contained apartments for 98 homeless veterans. Demand for specialist veteran’s accommodation and services is increasing, with 361 homeless veterans’ approaching, or being referred to Launchpad in 2024 alone.

In 2023, the government launched the Op FORTITUDE / Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme – a dedicated pathway for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Launchpad is one of nine funded organisations who were tasked to deliver the programme. The new Labour government has committed a further £3.5m funding to extend this programme up until April 2026, to ensure organisations such as Launchpad can continue to provide valuable specialist support to homeless veterans, with the ultimate aim of supporting them to secure employment, and to move on to a successful independent life.

Since it was established in 2013, Launchpad has evolved and grown, Jills appointment in August 2024 recognised the need for change and to put in place a new good governance and business assurance framework, a comprehensive business plan and a new strategy which puts the voice of veterans lived experience at the centre of it.

Changes have already been implemented commencing with an independent governance review. Four new Trustees were appointed to the Board in January and each bring with them extensive experience, qualifications, knowledge and the leadership qualities required to strengthen the charity and drive it forward.

At the end of 2024, the charity appointed a new Head of Finance. Work has commenced to develop a new performance framework and a comprehensive business plan. Since the turn of the new year, staff and residents (past and present) from all three supported housing schemes have also been engaged in a consultation process, as part of this bottom-up approach to strategy meaning, their views, ideas and experiences, will be listened to, considered and will become an important part of a new three year strategy for the organisation.

Jill Murray, Chief Executive at Launchpad, said:

“As a supported housing provider to homeless veterans, we are adapting our business model and developing a strategy to ensure that their [the residents] voice of lived experience is at the centre of our future decision making. Our aim is to harness the strength of our people and partnerships, both locally and nationally, to continue and enhance the important work which we do to support our homeless veterans, thus enabling them to live independently and to thrive.

 

“This is a really exciting time for Launchpad as we co-create our new strategy, build upon all of the good work done to date and drive the charity forward to achieve improved performance and outcomes for Armed Forces Veterans.”

Homeless veteran’s charity Launchpad has been awarded a grant of £75,000 from the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) to enable it to continue to provide vital accommodation and wraparound support to Army veterans living in all three of its houses.

The funding, approved on behalf of all the Regiments and Corps of the Army, will support at least 130 homeless Army veterans and 50 veterans in the community, once they have moved out of Launchpad to live independently.

The ABF has been a long-standing supporter of the charity since it was founded in 2013 and 90% of the residents that live in the houses in Newcastle, Liverpool and Durham are ex-Army.

Demand for specialist veteran’s accommodation and services is increasing, with 361 homeless veterans’ approaching, or being referred to Launchpad in 2024 alone. Last year, Launchpad accommodated 171 homeless veterans during the year – an increase from 135 just 18 months ago.

In addition to providing the veterans with furnished, one-bedroom flats, they are supported by wraparound support tailored to their individual needs. This includes helping them to resolve mental health/addiction problems including psychotherapy for those needing it, a programme of diversionary/health-inducing activities to keep the veterans focussed on their recovery, support with skills development and employment, help with finding long-term accommodation and continued support when living independently.

Jill Murray, Chief Executive of Launchpad, said:

“We are very grateful to Darren Doherty and his team at the Army Benevolent Fund, who have worked closely with us, listened to our challenges and really heard what we have said, then responded by supporting us with a grant that will enable Launchpad, to continue to offer vital accommodation and tailored support services to homeless ex-Army veterans.

 

“The grant will help to make a big difference to the lives of homeless veterans with complex needs and give them the chance of a better life. This is especially pertinent at a time when 85% of our current residents are ex-Army and demand for Launchpad Homeless Veterans Charity has more than doubled.”

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added:

“We are delighted to be helping Launchpad provide vital wraparound support for veterans in need. By offering assistance throughout the entire process, their services make a huge and positive impact on the quality of life of former soldiers as they reintegrate into wider society.”

Launchpad provides accommodation and support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans to help them stabilise their lives and make a successful transition from military to civilian life. The charity manages three houses in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool and accepts veterans from all over the UK. It provides accommodation for 98 homeless veterans and their partners where relevant. The houses often provide the first safe place in which the veteran has slept for months or even years.