Launchpad’s Speke House in Liverpool has benefitted from a donation of £8,000 from the B&Q Foundation.

The funding will be used to provide an outdoor multi-gym in the communal area for residents to use and the installation of an outdoor canopy at the entrance of the building to provide shelter for residents and visitors.

The improvements will benefit all 50 residents who live at the house, which provides accommodation and targeted support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans experiencing homelessness and unemployment.

The B&Q Foundation supports registered charities with a combination of grants, volunteering time and home improvement resources. It concentrates its efforts on local charities helping to create better, safer places for people who need them most.

The house benefits from an extensive outdoor communal space and once installed, residents will be able to enjoy free, unlimited access to gym equipment, which will also encourage them to socialise and engage in physical activity.

Staff at the house will also invite external fitness agencies to plan programmes for the residents to boost their mental health and wellbeing.

Due to the high volume of people visiting the house daily, a canopy at the entrance of the building will not only give the entrance better kerb appeal, but it will also benefit residents and visitors and provide shelter from bad weather.

Rob Lockyer, Facilities Manager at Speke House, said:

“We are very grateful to the B&Q Foundation for providing this donation, which will considerably improve the house and benefit all residents and their visitors.

 

“Some of our residents can’t afford a gym membership and some are too self-conscious to go to a gym, so this will remove those barriers and it is also a positive step to boosting their motivation, fitness and improving their mental health. Having an outside gym will also let people use it without disturbing other residents.”

The new canopy and outdoor multi gym will be installed at the house in the coming months.

This is the second donation that Speke House has received from the B&Q Foundation. The charity donated £5,000 in 2020 to contribute towards extending the communal kitchen facilities at the house.

Speke House comprises 50 self-contained, one-bedroom flats for former serving personnel and their partners. Launchpad has three houses in the North of England in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham providing accommodation for 101 homeless veterans – accepting veterans from all over the UK.

Up to fifty North East veterans have received a boost ahead of Christmas thanks to Ryder Architecture and Hydrock.

Staff from both organisations visited Launchpad’s Avondale House on the Byker estate in Newcastle upon Tyne earlier today to hand out Christmas gifts to each veteran living at the house.

The gifts were funded through money raised at this year’s Oktoberfest event, which was held in October. The veterans were also treated to a Christmas buffet, a full dinner and activities have been organised for residents living at Avondale House and Launchpad’s Hollyacre House in Sacriston, County Durham.

Ryder’s Oktoberfest returned to Brinkburn Street Brewery and veterans’ charity Launchpad was one of three North East charities to benefit from all money raised on the evening, which amounted to £10,000. Newcastle Cat and Dog Shelter and Newcastle United Foundation were the other two nominated charities.

Now in its sixth year, the event sponsored by Hydrock and Ward Hadaway saw a room full of guests enjoying an evening filled with traditional German food and drink and live music by local band, Groovetrain.

Charitable funds were raised with guests participating in a raffle and silent auction. The event is a huge success and has raised over £50,000 for various charities since it was first held in 2013.

Hydrock nominated Launchpad as their designated charity to benefit on the evening. In return, the charity invited staff from Hydrock and Ryder to see at first-hand the support the charity provides to veterans who have struggled to cope with the transition from military to civilian life.

Phil Thompson, Manager of both Avondale House and Hollyacre House, said:

“We are very grateful to Hydrock for nominating Launchpad as their chosen charity at the Ryder Oktoberfest event and for us to benefit from some of the proceeds that were raised.

“It’s been great to be able to give them a tour of the house and explain how we support our veterans but also for them to meet staff and some of the veterans themselves who have benefited from their generous donation.

“As a charity, we rely on personal and corporate donations so to receive a cheque for £3,333 is amazing and means so much to us. Christmas is a difficult time for a lot of our residents, especially those with families, so we wanted to brighten their Christmas by organising some gifts and treated the residents living at both houses to a buffet, a full Christmas dinner and some activities that they could all participate in.”

Chris Chennell, Regional Director – North East at Hydrock, said:

“Hydrock was proud to sponsor the Ryder Oktoberfest, an event that raises significant funds for local charities.

“Our choice to support Launchpad, a charity that helps transition veterans into civilian life, has significant meaning to our colleagues who are proud members of the ex-forces community.

“A fantastic £10,000 was raised for three great charities so it is nice to have the opportunity to visit Avondale House and meet the staff and residents but also hand out some Christmas presents.”

Avondale House comprises 33 self-contained one-bedroom flats for former serving personnel and their partners. Launchpad has three houses in the North of England in Newcastle, Liverpool and Durham providing accommodation for 101 homeless veterans – accepting veterans from all over the UK.

On behalf of our Trustees, staff and residents, we’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024!

North East regeneration specialists, RE:GEN Group have provided Army veteran Jack Harrison with the best possible start to help rebuild his life after donating a welcome pack for his flat in Newcastle.

Like Jack, around 90% of the veterans who arrive at Launchpad are homeless and turn up with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Jack, 24, arrived at Launchpad’s Avondale House on the Byker estate with only a bag of clothes and his toothbrush in his possession but, RE:GEN Group sponsored a welcome pack which has provided him with new bedding and towels, toiletries, cutlery and tins and packets of food.

Launchpad provides accommodation and targeted support, with the help of specialist partners, to UK Armed Forces veterans experiencing homelessness and unemployment and those who have struggled with the transition from the military into civilian life.

Jack, who originates from the North East, moved into the house in September after he was rough sleeping. Following in the footsteps of his brother and Grandad, he signed up to train as a driver with the Royal Logistic Corps and was based at Army Training Regiment Pirbright. He left training, by mutual consent, to build up his fitness and was sofa surfing at his sisters before moving out and being rendered homeless.

Jack was referred to Launchpad through The Forces Employment Charity and has since been working hard to build up his fitness and focus on his career options and move on, which he hopes to achieve in the new year. He is actively engaging with staff and residents and is participating in the England Boxing Veteran’s Project to improve his fitness.

Paul Flannigan, Director of People and Culture at RE:GEN Group presented the welcome pack to Jack in his flat and said:

“It’s sad to see someone like Jack, who has genuinely tried to make a good start in life end up homeless and unemployed.

 

“Launchpad is a brilliant charity providing vital accommodation and support to help veterans to move on to live independently.

 

“RE:GEN Group has been working on the Byker estate for the last few years and we wanted to give something back by supporting the charity and saying thank you to the veterans, like Jack, who need that little extra bit of support. Hopefully, this welcome pack goes someway to help provide the best possible start in his transition to moving on with his career and life.”

Jack commented,

“I really didn’t know what to expect when I moved in. I literally turned up with a bag of clothes and that’s it so to move into a lovely, warm fully-furnished flat and then to receive this welcome pack from RE:GEN Group, it’s a godsend. All the costs and worry of moving in have been removed, which has helped me to settle in and focus on my future.

 

“I’m really grateful to Launchpad for providing me with a place I can call home – the staff and residents have all been really supportive.”

Jack hopes to continue to build up his fitness and eventually resume training with the Army but, he is also considering applying for a role with the Police.

Ann Rees, Specialist Veterans Case Worker at Launchpad’s Avondale House, said:

“When the veterans arrive at one of our houses, it can be really daunting for them, so we try to make them feel at ease and give them the best start possible to help them on their journey to transition to civilian life. Everyday items we take for granted mean a lot to our residents so we are very grateful to Paul and RE:GEN Group for providing this welcome pack to Jack.”

Avondale House comprises 33 self-contained one-bedroom flats for former serving personnel and their partners. Launchpad has three houses in the North of England in Newcastle, Liverpool and Durham providing accommodation for 101 homeless veterans – accepting veterans from all over the UK

Painting and decorating contractor, Bell Group has teamed up with veterans’ charity Launchpad to transform the communal lounge and kitchen area in one of its houses.

Staff from the firm visited Avondale House on the Byker estate in Newcastle upon Tyne to deliver a two-day upskilling and volunteering course where residents were taught the basics of painting techniques to improve their skills and knowledge.

Long-serving painters Ian and Lenny shared their experience with the residents and Dulux provided all the paint, tools and additional staff to transform the area, providing a calmer more modern space for the residents to enjoy.

The two-day upskilling event was delivered as part of the firm’s social value commitments, where it delivers investment in local communities and involves local people.

Launchpad provides accommodation and targeted support, with the help of specialist partners, to UK Armed Forces veterans experiencing homelessness and unemployment and those who have struggled with the transition from the military into civilian life.

Avondale House was the first house the charity opened in 2013 and comprises 33 self-contained one-bedroom flats for former serving personnel and their partners.

Stacey Halliday, Community Engagement Coordinator for Bell Group – Cumbria and & North East region, said:

“Launchpad reached out to us and invited me to visit Avondale House in Newcastle and Hollyacre House in Durham. As part of our social value commitment and engagement with local communities, this has been a brilliant project to work on and to support our veterans.

 

“Our Social Value Strategy focuses on the societal issues that are a natural fit with our business: unemployment, inspiring young people, social inclusion, community regeneration and environmental issues. It is an integral part of our overall business strategy and is fully supported by Bell Group Directors and Senior Management.”

Sam Hughes, Assistant Manager – Projects at Launchpad’s Avondale House, said:

“We are very grateful to Bell Group and Dulux for coming in and helping the residents but also to redecorate our communal area and kitchen. This has made a huge difference and it’s nice that it has all been freshened up ready for Christmas. The residents really enjoyed learning new skills from Ian and Lenny and it will give them the confidence to use these skills when they eventually move on from Launchpad and live independently.”

Launchpad has three houses in the North of England in Newcastle, Liverpool and Durham providing accommodation for 101 homeless veterans – accepting veterans from all over the UK.

To date, over 635 veterans have been supported since 2013 and 139 residents were supported between July 2022 and end of June 2023. On average, over the last five years, 60% of residents successfully moved on from Launchpad to live independently and 32% gained employment during their time with Launchpad.