Following the success of last year’s black-tie celebration evening, we are pleased to announce details for this year’s Armed Forces’ Dinner.

Thursday 10th October 2024 in the Great Hall, Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne

Introducing your compere Alfie Joey. Entertainment and guest speakers will be announced soon – watch this space!

Thank you to all our sponsors Esh Group, Hydrock, believe housing, Northumbrian Water and Mode Rehabilitation.

£1,000 per table of 10, or £100 per ticket. Ticket includes pre-dinner drink, a 3-course served meal, guest speakers and entertainment, raffle, silent auction, plus some surprises on the night!

All funds raised on the evening will be donated to Launchpad to enable us to continue to provide essential accommodation and support to homeless and unemployed veterans.

To book your place, please contact Craig Downs, Business Development Manager (North East) on 07811 287 922 or email [email protected]

Launchpad has received a grant for £11,250 from the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), working in partnership with Greenwich Hospital.

The grant will help rehabilitate five homeless Royal Navy veterans who have struggled with their transition to civilian life.

The RNRMC Through Life Committee awarded the grant to improve mental health, combat loneliness and social isolation and to continue to support residents who need ongoing support.

Launchpad provides accommodation and targeted support to UK Armed Forces veterans experiencing homelessness and unemployment. The charity manages three houses in the North of England in Liverpool, Newcastle, and Durham and accept veterans from all over the UK. It provides accommodation for 100 homeless veterans.

The funding will help Royal Navy veterans such as Olivia Gollick, who served four years as a medic. She left the Royal Navy to further increase her chances of job progression and applied to study for a degree at the University of Sunderland.

In her second year of studies, she left her course, separated from her partner and found herself homeless and was sofa-surfing at a friend’s house. She applied for accommodation at Launchpad’s Hollyacre House in Durham and said:

“Launchpad gave me my independence. It’s allowed me to be me again and to have the responsibility of having my own flat and a safe place to live.”

Olivia has since successfully moved on from Hollyacre House and hopes to carry on with her degree and qualify as a paramedic. She is also considering undertaking a podiatry and chiropodist course at college.

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

“We are incredibly grateful to the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital for this grant. Launchpad provides vital accommodation and support to Armed Forces veterans, including those who have served in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines, and who have struggled with the transition from military to civilian life.

 

“It costs on average £11,667 to support and rehabilitate one homeless veteran during a typical 12-month stay. Two-thirds of that cost is covered through rental income, almost all of which is received as Housing Benefit but, as a charity, we need to raise the remainder through voluntary income, via grants and other donations, to meet these costs.

 

“This is why additional funding and support from armed forces charities such as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital, a Crown body, is crucial in ensuring that our work can continue. We are eternally grateful for their support.”

Mandy Lindley, Director of Funding and Relationships, said:

“In September last year, we were honoured to fund Launchpad, whose tireless efforts are making a profound impact in enhancing mental well-being, alleviating loneliness, and fostering a sense of community among our veterans. Alongside Greenwich Hospital and organisations like Launchpad, we strive to ensure that no veteran feels alone, and every journey towards healing is met with compassion and support.”

Jonathan Ball, Director of Grants, Greenwich Hospital, said:

“A safe and secure home where veterans are supported while they adapt to civilian life is fundamental to a successful transition. We’re therefore delighted to continue working with the RNRMC to fund charities like Launchpad, which can deliver critical work on the ground to achieve positive outcomes for our Royal Navy veterans.”

Since it was formed in 2013, Launchpad has supported over 700 veterans across all three houses. On average, over the last five years, 61% of veterans supported by Launchpad have successfully moved on and 50% gained employment whilst at Launchpad.

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visited Launchpad’s Avondale House yesterday to find out more about the charity and to meet staff and residents.

Their Royal Highnesses received a tour of the house, which provides vital accommodation and targeted support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans experiencing homelessness and unemployment.

They also spent time talking to staff, residents and partners who the charity works with, and visited one of the residents’ flats to meet Tony Pallister who moved into Avondale House in August 2023 after he became unemployed and homeless.

Tony served in the Coldstream Guards between 2007 and 2009 and his duties included Guard Duty at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and the Tower of London. He was part of the last march from Chelsea Barracks to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard and in 2007, he was involved in the Trooping of the Colour and the state opening of the Houses of Parliament.

Tony said:

“Launchpad has been a godsend. I don’t know what would have happened if I had to live on the streets. Not only have they provided me with a comfortable flat, it’s all the wraparound support that they have provided, which has helped me to prepare and move on. I hope to be able to move on and live independently but also able to spend more time with my daughter”.

David Shaw, CEO of Launchpad, said:

“It was our pleasure to welcome Their Royal Highnesses to Avondale House to learn more about Launchpad and the work we do to support our UK Armed Forces’ veterans who have experienced homelessness. It was nice for our staff, partners and residents to meet TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and to talk to them about their experiences and support they have received from us.”

The Duke of Gloucester is Colonel-in-Chief for the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and has been Patron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Foundation since 2012. The Duchess of Gloucester is Colonel-in-Chief, Adjutant General’s Corps and has held the appointment of Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, Adjutant General’s Corps, since 1992.

Avondale House was one of three projects they visited in Newcastle and they were warmly greeted by Year 6 children from Byker Primary School and St. Lawrence’s RC Primary School who waved Union Jack flags upon their arrival.

A programme designed to support veterans by increasing their self-belief, confidence and motivation has benefitted three of our residents living at Speke House.

The residents were part of an 9-person team that has recently completed an 8-day sailing trip around the Orkneys and successfully achieved their competent crew member certificates.

The programme, delivered by CatZero, is designed to give veterans the opportunity to meet new friends and people and support one another in team building and group activities.

Each resident secured funding for the programme from the Army Benevolent Fund and they were required to attend at least two residentials to qualify for the big sail.

As part of the 8-day voyage on the 72-foot challenge yacht, CatZero, they learned how to navigate and gained a lot of information about the yacht, what each area was called and why. They also had lessons on when to sail, weather reading and predictions.

Jan Buckley, Activities Coordinator for Launchpad’s Speke House organised the trip for the residents and said:

“This has been a brilliant trip for our residents – they have gained so much from this and have become better people for it. For me, working with CatZero has been a pleasure. Pete, Fiona and Neil who run the programme are very professional and have made the whole process understandable and straightforward. They tailored the programme for the guys to understand and get used to living in close proximity to each other.”

In addition to the three residents from Speke House, the 9-person crew included three veterans from Hull and three residents from Healthier Heroes CIC, who is partnering with Launchpad as part of the government’s Op FORTITUDE programme which aims to reduce veterans’ homelessness.

Launchpad’s residents were very grateful and upon reflection after the programme, one said:

“When I agreed to sign up to the programme, I had something to focus on and it got me through Christmas, which I find an extremely hard time. I’d give the programme a 10 out of 10 for the way it has been executed and I met people I wouldn’t have in normal walks of life.”

Another resident commented:

“I have gained so much confidence in myself. I’ve now signed up to do a computer course and I’m having a positive attitude towards life in general. I never missed a shift on the sail and I learnt the importance of teamwork and supporting people when they need it. Thanks to CatZero, I’m 100% more confident and sociable and I’d like to thank them for helping me make the change.”

Another Speke House resident said:

“I’ve made friends for life and I’m proud of myself for getting through such a challenging programme.”

Pete Tighe, CatZero Manager, said:

“CatZero’s motto is ‘Delivering Lasting Personal Change’, and I believe this veterans’ programme has delivered that.

 

“As well as sailing, the group undertook three different residentials in the Yorkshire Wolds, the Peak District, and Northumberland. Activities that took place were caving, hiking, and water sports, as well as cooking and communal living, all of which were designed to prepare individuals for the sailing voyage.

 

“Sailing from Hull to the Orkneys and back is an arduous challenge, however, the group rose to the challenge and should be really proud of their efforts; we are certainly proud of them!”

Catzero has another veterans’ programme starting in July. If you are an Army or Marine veteran who would like to be considered, please contact [email protected]

Veterans’ charity Launchpad provides vital accommodation and targeted support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans experiencing homelessness and those who have struggled with transitioning from the military into civilian life.

In addition to providing residents with housing and financial advice, each Launchpad house has an activities co-ordinator who organises and facilitates a range of diversionary projects and activities. Residents are encouraged to participate in the activities such as mindfulness, arts projects, gardening and outdoor activities, to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), run by the Mental Health Foundation, is ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’ and Launchpad is backing the campaign to raise awareness with its residents and encourage them to keep moving and be active.

Launchpad’s staff work with residents to find out what activities they would like to participate in and then aim to deliver them. The charity runs three houses in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham and provides a range of diversionary activities that encourage them to keep moving.

Gardening, cycling, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, ten-pin bowling, golf and boxing are just some of the regular activities that have already been organised for Launchpad’s residents this year. Some of the activities have been funded through the government’s Op FORTITUDE programme, which aims to reduce veterans’ homelessness and Launchpad is one of nine funded organisations to help deliver the programme for the government.

Through the programme, Launchpad provides combined addiction and mental health psychotherapy services, intensive training and employment support, greater access to community activities and focussed support to help the veterans transition to live independently.

In addition to those activities, residents living at Launchpad’s Speke House in Liverpool have also benefitted from an 8-day sailing trip around the Orkneys, which was organised by CatZero and in a separate agreement, Bearded Men Adventures, based in Llangollen, enable residents to participate in activities such as white water rafting, coasteering, river tubing, mountaineering and paddleboarding.

Jan Buckley, Activities Co-ordinator at Launchpad’s Speke House, said: “Being outdoors and keeping active provides a positive and stimulating experience for our residents and is a good way for them to manage their mental health and wellbeing.

 

“By accessing funding through the Op FORTITUDE programme and forming unique partnerships with organisations such as CatZero and Bearded Men Adventures, has enabled us to deliver a wider range of activities for them to engage with. Mental Health Awareness Week is a great way to raise awareness although it is something we aim to do all year round, working with and supporting our residents.”

At Avondale House in Byker, Newcastle this week, residents are working in the garden to tidy it up and get it ready for the summer. Sam Hughes, Projects Manager for the house, said:

“Many of the residents have mental health issues, ranging from anxiety to service and non-service-related PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). They enjoy participating in the activities we provide for them and recognise that being active is a great way to stimulate their mental health. We’re always keen to support campaigns such as Mental Health Awareness Week.”

At Hollyacre House in Sacriston, Durham, residents will be participating in their gardening club.

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, please visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/get-involved or join the conversation on social media using #MomentsForMovement and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

As a charity, we rely on personal and corporate donations to enable us to provide the services we do. All money that is donated, contributes towards supporting our veterans, improving our facilities and providing activities that will help to rehabilitate our veterans.

We are pleased to publish our fundraising brochure highlighting some of the events and activities you may wish to support. If you would like to fundraise for Launchpad by organising your own event or campaign, please get in touch as we’d love to support you. We can also promote your event(s) via our social media channels.

To view a copy of this year’s fundraising brochure, please click here.

Your support is vitally important to our veterans – thank you from all of us!