Launchpad was one of four charities to receive a generous donation from Durham Freemasons.

Phil Thompson, Manager of both Avondale House and Hollyacre House in the North East attended the Durham Armed Forces Network – Charity Walk Presentation evening held at Sanctuary Lodge in Durham.

On Saturday 8 June, 16 walkers set off on a 22-mile walk along the Durham Coastal Path, starting at the Military Museum show piece at the Heugh Gun Battery in Hartlepool, passing directly by the Tommy World War One Sculpture at Seaham and then on to the Sunderland War Memorial in Mowbray Park, Sunderland.

The walkers raised an incredible £10,000 and this was generously matched by Durham Freemasons Charity which means including Gift Aid, over £21,000 was raised and distributed to veterans charities in the North East.

Durham Freemasons has established an Armed Forces Committee (AFC) with the purpose of engaging with and enhancing the lives of the Armed Forces community across its Province.  Since its inception, the AFC were keen to organise a charitable event with the purpose of raising funds through the Durham Freemasons Charity specifically to support veterans charities.

Launchpad received a donation of £6,000 which was greatly received and will be used to purchase and install outdoor gym equipment and an awning at Hollyacre House for residents to stay active and to manage their mental health and wellbeing.

Phil Thompson said:

“We are very grateful to Durham Freemasons and the Durham Freemasons Charity for their generous donation and congratulate all the walkers who participated in the charity walk this summer. This money will be invested into installing outdoor gym equipment for our residents to use which will encourage them to be outdoors and exercise and help with their mental health and wellbeing.”

Housing support for UK veterans has been guaranteed after the government committed new additional funding for veterans’ homelessness support programmes.

Jill Murray, Chief Executive of Launchpad, said:

“This is fantastic news for our UK Armed Forces veterans who have experienced homelessness and we welcome this decision by the government to provide additional, much-needed funding, to be extended until 2026.

“Launchpad, alongside Healthier Heroes CIC, was selected as one of nine funded organisations to deliver the Op FORTITUDE programme, which aims to reduce veterans’ homelessness.

“Within the first 11-months of the programme, 259 homeless veterans were referred from Op FORTITUDE, which not only demonstrates the scale of veterans’ homelessness across the UK, but is also far more veterans than we can collectively accommodate across our four houses.

“However, we have seen the positive impact this programme has delivered to Launchpad’s veterans, with 187 previously homeless veterans benefitting, 71 successfully moving on to independent living and 63 securing employment.

“Myself and my staff are looking forward to continuing to work with the government to deliver the additional support and wraparound service for veterans at risk or those experiencing homelessness.”

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Up to 170 guests celebrated the work of homeless veterans’ charity, Launchpad by attending a glittering Armed Forces’ Dinner last week.

The event, which was held in the Great Hall at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, celebrated the work the charity provides to UK Armed Forces’ veterans who have experienced homelessness and have struggled with the transition into civilian life.

Guests were entertained by host Alfie Joey and the evening commenced with a 10-minute performance by the Tyne Electrical Engineers Association Pipes and Drums band.

Royal Marines veteran, Andy Grant who served with 45 Commando fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province in Afghanistan was invited as a keynote speaker and gave a funny yet moving and honest speech about his experience of serving and getting critically injured during an expedition, being medically discharged, facing life as an amputee and then how he has overcome adversity.

A live auction followed a delicious three-course meal and the evening was concluded with a performance by singer, Claire Louise who performed a selection of 40s wartime and Postmodern Jukebox hits.

One of the stars of the night was 6-year-old Jevindu Senyuth Dissanayake who donated a selection of hand paintings to the charity to auction off and raise some funds.

Jill Murray, CEO of Launchpad, said:

“It was a fabulous evening and it was great to see so many organisations and people attend to learn more about the charity and the work we do to support our homeless veterans. Thank you to all our sponsors and those who purchased a table, your support is greatly appreciated.”

The sponsors of the event included Esh Construction, Hydrock, now Stantec, believe housing, Northumbrian Water and Mode Rehabilitation.

Launchpad provides vital 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.

The charity manages three houses in the North of England and accepts veterans from all over the UK. It provides accommodation for 98 homeless veterans at any one time.

Homeless veterans charity Launchpad has praised the impact of the government’s Op FORTITUDE programme after 187 previously homeless veterans have benefitted with 71 successfully moving on to independent living and 63 securing employment within the first year.

Launched by the government in 2023, Launchpad was selected as one of nine funded organisations to deliver the two-year £8.5 million programme, which aims to reduce veterans’ homelessness.

Over the last 12 months, the charity has been providing additional, sustained support to homeless veterans across its three houses in Newcastle, Liverpool and Durham. In addition, Launchpad partnered with Healthier Heroes CIC based in Burnley and together, 230 veterans will be supported over the two years.

Residents have benefitted from psychotherapy sessions, engaging in activities to boost their confidence, support with training and employment and follow-on support into independent living once they have moved on.

In the first 12 months across all locations, Launchpad has delivered 1,480 psychotherapy sessions to residents which were delivered on a one-to-one basis and tailored to their individual needs. The sessions are proving to be popular, and feedback from those attending scored the helpfulness of psychotherapy as 8 of out 10.

Since last September, 144 residents have engaged in training and work experience and 63 have secured paid employment. Funding from Op FORITIDE has enabled the charity to employ dedicated Employment and Training Co-ordinators in all locations.

Regular breakfast clubs, gardening, hiking and walking, cycling, cooking, fishing and organised trips and visits to various attractions are just some of the wider programme of organised activities residents have been able to participate in and enjoy. Engaging in diversionary/skills-building activities helps to reduce isolation and improves their communication skills and mental health and wellbeing.

Once the residents move on to live independently, they are supported by our dedicated Independent Living Co-ordinators who support them to move on, help them build support networks so they sustain their recovery and do not return to homelessness. Since last September, 84 residents have been supported.

Jill Murray, Chief Executive of Launchpad, said:

“We have been surprised at the scale of demand for this service. Between all three Launchpad houses and Bancroft House in Burnley, managed by Healthier Heroes CIC, we have capacity to collectively accommodate 127 homeless veterans. In just 11 months, 259 homeless veterans were referred from Op FORTITUDE which is unfortunately more than we can accommodate.

 

“However, the impact of those who we have been able to support has been immeasurable. No veteran should be homeless and this programme demonstrates that more needs to be done to support our UK Armed Forces veterans who have fallen on hard times. We will continue to support our veterans and hopefully, the new government will allocate funding to similar programmes.”

Sam Jackson, Manager of Launchpad’s Speke House in Liverpool, said:

“There has been really good team collaboration and sharing information. We have multi-agency and forum meetings with other providers. The activities programme we can now run thanks to Op FORTITUDE is amazing – engagement and motivation is now at an all-time high!”

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

“The Op FORTITUDE funding has raised morale and confidence, it has stopped isolation and helped with engagement and social skills. The funding has given residents the opportunity to see a psychotherapist straight away, without long NHS waiting lists which were always a source of negative feedback.”

Andrew and Rio Powell, Co–founders of Healthier Heroes CIC and Bancroft House, said:

“All our roles are in place and the new staff members are doing incredible work. Overall, the Op FORTITUDE referral process is easy, and we can now submit how many beds we have available, which has improved the process.”

Launchpad provides 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.

The charity manages three houses in the North of England and accepts veterans from all over the UK. It provides accommodation for 98 homeless veterans at any one time.

A host of organisations based in and around Liverpool have supported homeless veterans charity, Launchpad by donating 50 tote bags filled with essential items that will help the veterans who arrive at Speke House to give them the best possible start on their journey to independent living.

The event, held at the iconic Cotton Exchange building in Liverpool’s business district in September, was organised by global engineering company Atkins Realis and brought together businesses, charitable organisations, and community leaders to explore how collaboration can drive meaningful social outcomes.

The event featured participation from a diverse range of organisations, including Morgan Sindall Construction, Liverpool City Region, the Whitechapel Centre, and Regeneration Brainery, along with STEM school governors. Local cooperative, Homebaked Bakery, also attended and generously provided their signature scouse pies, sausage rolls, and cakes for the occasion.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees engaged in workshops and activities centred around the theme of Social Value – examining how organisations can support each other to better serve vulnerable populations. Launchpad’s Deputy Manager, Nicola Higham, had the opportunity to present to the group, showcasing the work Launchpad does to support homeless veterans. She discussed how individuals and businesses can get involved by offering donations, volunteering, or providing employment opportunities for Launchpad’s residents.

A key highlight of the event was a ‘speed networking’ session, where attendees were able to interact with students from Regeneration Brainery, exchanging stories and advice. This created a valuable platform for fostering connections between business leaders and young people looking to build careers in socially responsible sectors.

Homebaked Bakery also shared their inspirational journey, detailing how their cooperative bakery has been providing jobs, affordable produce, and community training since 2012, serving as a beacon of hope in the Anfield area.

The afternoon culminated in an interactive workshop where attendees packed tote bags filled with essential items to be donated to Launchpad and the Whitechapel Centre.

Whitechapel received ‘Kettle Packs,’ which contained dried and tinned foods for homeless individuals staying in hotels or B&Bs with limited facilities. Launchpad was delighted to receive 50 bags filled with toiletries and essential items to be given to new residents upon their arrival.

Since the event, these welcome packs have made a significant impact at Launchpad’s Speke House, where new veterans receive these essential items upon arrival, helping them settle into their new homes more comfortably. For veterans who have faced homelessness, having access to basic toiletries and necessities can make a world of difference.

Nicola Higham, Deputy Manager of Launchpad’s Speke House said;

“We are very grateful to Atkin Realis for inviting us to this event. It has highlighted the power of collaboration between businesses and charitable organisations to deliver tangible, life-changing outcomes. We are immensely grateful for the support and look forward to future opportunities to engage with partners to continue making a positive impact in our community.”