Supermarket giant Asda has stepped forward to make a donation of hygiene products to be given to the residents living at Launchpad’s Speke House in Liverpool.

Boxed sets of deodorants and shower gels and bales of towels were donated to the residents by Asda’s Hunts Cross store, as part of their way to support local community groups.

Launchpad’s Speke House is the city’s largest veterans’ accommodation in Liverpool and provides safe, secure accommodation and other essential support to 48 veterans to help them make a successful transition to civilian life.

Natalie Scully, Assistant Manager (Projects) at Speke House, reached out to the store to ask for any donations of hygiene products that could be given to the residents. She said:

“Despite everything that is going on in the world at the moment, individuals and organisations have been so generous in supporting our residents and the work we do.

 

“It’s a really challenging time for our residents, particularly with current lockdown restrictions making it difficult to access shops to buy essential hygiene products, so this donation is so important. I’d like to thank Asda, and in particular Chloe, for making this possible.”

Chloe Rose Millington, Asda Hunts Cross Community Champion, said:

“I am always looking out for new good causes to support within our local community. I am proud to support Natalie and her team at Launchpad, for their tremendous and inspiring work, and our veterans, especially because they have supported us in countless unknown ways and now they need our support and I am more than happy to help.”

Since 2013, the charity, which also has a house in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, has supported almost 500 veterans. In a typical year, 71% of residents successfully move on to settled accommodation and 42% (pre-pandemic figure) leave in paid employment.

Last year, those numbers had fallen due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as employment opportunities were harder to find and recovery rates slowed due to difficulties in getting veterans the opportunities they needed from partner organisations.

Veteran residents living at Launchpad’s Avondale House in Newcastle upon Tyne are looking forward to getting outdoors this summer and using fishing as a way to manage their mental health and wellbeing.

Residents living at the scheme in Byker, which comprises 33 self-contained flats and is the city’s largest veterans’ accommodation provider, have found the last twelve months difficult due to the pandemic.

Their mental health and wellbeing has been challenged since lockdown as most services have either had to reduce or stop. The communal areas within the building have been closed and some of our more vulnerable residents have had to self-isolate in their rooms. However, the charity’s staff have been filling in the gap with phone calls and video calls, or face-to-face support when distancing rules allow.

Staff at the scheme asked residents what activities they would like to participate in once the pandemic is under control and when it is safe to do so. At the end of last year, residents at Avondale House set up a cycling club and chose fishing following previous successful trips with the Angling Trust in the past.

The charity has secured £3,530 from the Angling Trust as part of Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund and will organise a series of fishing trips, available to all 33 residents to participate in throughout the year.

It is proven that fishing reduces stress and anxiety, improves physical health, mental wellbeing and social isolation and it will contribute to their recovery.

Phil Thompson, Manager of Avondale House, said:

“We know this project will be popular with residents because we gave them the option to collectively choose what activities they would like to participate in. We already have a very successful partnership with the Angling Trust from previous fishing experience days and we are delighted to continue to work together to help support our veteran residents.

 

“We know from experience, fishing is a great activity to get our veterans outdoors in the fresh air and away from every day life and stresses. I think we’re all ready to do this once this pandemic is over and our residents are looking forward to learning more about fishing and, of course, catching some fish!”

David Munt, Club & Fishery Development Officer (East) for the Angling Trust and a Level 2 qualified coach, said:

“Facilitating previous fishing days with the resident veterans at Avondale House has been an absolute pleasure. It’s been great to watch them relax and enjoying the company of their comrades in a tranquil peaceful environment which is obviously great for their health and wellbeing.”

 

“We work in partnership with the Environment Agency and Waterside Parks, Northumbrian Water to take groups of people such as veterans to provide a different experience. The trips are very well received by all groups.”

Fladen Fishing UK have also provided a very generous discount on equipment for the veterans. This includes rods, reels, nets and other essential accessories. Rachael Bradwick, Managing Director, said:

“Fladen Fishing consider it a privilege to be given this opportunity to support our former servicemen and women. Fishing is the perfect way to relax, connect with nature and detach from the pressures of life.”

In addition to Avondale House, Launchpad also has a house in Liverpool. Since 2013, the charity has supported almost 500 veterans. 71% of residents successfully move on to settled accommodation and 42% (pre-pandemic figure) leave in paid employment.

Liverpool’s largest veterans’ accommodation provider has strengthened its team with the appointment of a specialist case worker.

Kate Riley has been appointed at Launchpad’s Speke House to help residents living at the scheme to overcome mental health, gambling, drug and alcohol issues and to move them on to stable and independent lives.

She will be based full-time at the house, which provides safe and secure accommodation and other essential support to 48 veterans to help them make a successful transition to civilian life.

Many of the residents living at Speke House have mental health issues, ranging from anxiety to service and non-service-related PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Some need help with addictions to alcohol and drugs.

Prior to Covid-19, residents accessed face-to-face mental health support, but since lockdown in March, waiting lists have increased and certain providers are now only offering support via telephone or video.

Kate joins Launchpad after working for three years as a prison officer at Altcourse Prison working with young offenders and adult males who had a range of needs including mental health, drug and alcohol additions. She has also worked within a high secure mental health service for 16 years.

Commenting on her appointment, Kate, from Bootle in Liverpool, said:

“I have years of experience working in similar roles with vulnerable people who had addictions, encouraging them to successfully rehabilitate.

 

“I motivate individuals to do what’s best for themselves and others around them. I work with them to respect the help and advice we offer and this is something I want to do while working with the veteran residents here at Speke House.”

Sam Jackson, Manager at Speak House, said:

“This is a really great appointment and Kate has a lot of experience that will help our residents with their addictions and mental health issues.

 

“The impact Covid-19 has had on our residents has affected their mental health and wellbeing. Our residents need face-to-face contact and support while those receiving online and telephone support said they spoke to a different person each time and there was no continuity of treatment.

 

“In the past, we have worked with partners to deliver this service on our behalf but only a handful of residents could access the service. By bringing Kate on board full time, it means all residents can access this vitally important service.”

Funding was secured from various partnering organisations such as the Steve Morgan Foundation, The Edward Gostling Foundation and Medicash, all of whom have contributed towards creating this full time role.

Since 2013, the charity, which also has a house in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, has supported almost 500 veterans. In a typical year, 69% successfully move on to settled accommodation and 42% leave in paid employment.

Last year, those numbers had fallen due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as employment opportunities were harder to find and recovery rates slowed due to difficulties in getting veterans the support they needed from partner organisations.

Ward Councillors from Speke-Garston have donated £730 to Launchpad’s Speke House to ensure resident veterans living at the scheme have at least something to open on Christmas Day.

After receiving a similar donation last year, staff from Launchpad applied for the funding from the Mayoral Neighbourhood Fund – a community pot of £1m which is divided between wards and allows local councillors to choose what project and activities to invest in.

Cllr. Doreen Knight, Cllr. Leon Tootle and Cllr. and Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Rasmussen, granted permission for the funds to be awarded to Launchpad to purchase Christmas presents for all 48 veterans living at the scheme.

Without this funding, some of the residents may have woken up on Christmas morning with nothing but, thanks to their generosity, they will each receive a present including boxed sets of deodorants, shower gels, boxes of chocolates, socks and diaries.

In addition, residents will also receive hampers to ensure they don’t go hungry over the Christmas period.

Cllr Tootle said: “As councillors, we are aware of immense contribution that all veterans have made in serving our country. It is a privilege to provide support to an organisation that supports these veterans and assists with what might be a challenging transition between military to civilian life.”

Natalie Scully, Assistant Manager (Projects) at Speke House, said: “We are very grateful to our local councillors for supporting and providing this funding to the veteran residents living at Speke House. Many of our residents won’t spend time with their families and loved ones this Christmas and may feel lonely and isolated. Having something to open on Christmas morning will mean the world to them so thank you.”

Launchpad’s Speke House is the city’s largest veterans’ accommodation in Liverpool and provides safe, secure accommodation and other essential support to 48 veterans to help them make a successful transition to civilian life.

Since it was founded in 2013, Launchpad, which also has Avondale House in Newcastle upon Tyne, has supported almost 500 homeless veterans.

In a typical year, 69% of residents living at Launchpad successfully move on to settled accommodation and 42% leave in paid employment. This year, those numbers have fallen due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as employment opportunities are harder to find and recovery rates have slowed due to difficulties in getting veterans the support they need.

Independent restaurant chain, Maray has donated all the ingredients to make this year’s Christmas special for the veteran residents living at Launchpad’s Speke House.

The Liverpool chain, which has three restaurants in the city at Albert Dock, Bold Street and Allerton Road, reached out to suppliers to ask for contributions of food to be delivered to the house, which is home to 48 veterans.

Lakes Speciality Foods in the Lake District has donated turkey’s while Noone & Son have donated all the veg and trimmings to ensure those present benefit from a delicious, cooked meal on Christmas Day.

In total, the charity has received three turkeys, two sacks of potatoes, a sack of carrots, sack of sprouts and a sack of onions and parsnips.

The donation has been organised by Owen Hagan, Head of Food Development at Maray Restaurant Chain who reached out to his contacts after taking a call from Natalie Scully, Assistant Manager (Projects) at Speke House.

Owen said:

“This year will be particularly tough for a lot of people, not to mention charities. Some of the smaller charities have had all their income from personal donations and fundraising wiped out this year due to the Covid-19 and we’ve noticed that it is the smaller charities that may miss out.

 

“We already have a working relationship with Launchpad to support their veterans and when Natalie reached out to me, I knew we had to try and help and do something. I hope they will be able to relax and enjoy their meal.”

The meal will be cooked by the residents themselves and Natalie will also be on hand to ensure everyone gets a hearty meal. She said:

“I am so grateful to Owen and all their suppliers for making this happen. I was really worried that the residents would not be able to enjoy Christmas without having a nice warm cooked meal. If this hadn’t been made possible, some of the residents wouldn’t have even bothered to cook anything so I am pleased that all the residents will be able to enjoy this and will be fed and watered properly.”

Launchpad’s Speke House is the city’s largest veterans’ accommodation in Liverpool and provides safe, secure accommodation and other essential support to 48 veterans to help them make a successful transition to civilian life.

Since it was founded in 2013, Launchpad, which also has Avondale House in Newcastle upon Tyne, has supported almost 500 homeless veterans.

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