A resident living at Launchpad’s Speke House has demonstrated his joinery skills by creating a vast decking area in the garden of the house for others to enjoy.

A joiner by trade, the resident was joined by two other veterans living at the house to install the new decking and posts.

The six-week project was completed in time and unveiled to other residents and visitors as part of this year’s Armed Forces Day celebrations.

The materials were purchased at a reduced rate from a local timber merchant using money provided by the government’s Op FORTITUDE programme. The programme, which aims to reduce veterans’ homelessness, provides a dedicated pathway for veteran rough sleepers and Launchpad, in partnership with Healthier Heroes CIC based in Burnley, and is committed to supporting 230 veterans over two years.

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 live independently.

Jan Buckley, Activities Coordinator for Launchpad’s Speke House, said:

“The decking is amazing and has made so much difference to the garden. He worked alongside two other residents to ensure it was ready for Armed Forces Day and for the summer months ahead.

 

“The decking is not only aesthetically pleasing, it has replaced the previous uneven paving slabs with a beautiful wooden decked area which is flat and ideal for our residents or visitors with disabilities to equally enjoy the garden area. The decking encourages residents to sit outside and have a cup of tea or an informal meeting with their support worker. Thank you to Op Fortitude for contributing towards the costs of the materials and of course to the resident for his amazing joinery skills.”

Last year, Launchpad’s Speke House provided accommodation and support to 81 veterans. On average, over the last five years, 56% of veterans supported by Speke House have successfully moved on and 28% left in paid employment.

Speke House comprises 50 self-contained, one-bedroom flats and bedsits for former serving personnel and their partners. Launchpad has three houses in the North of England in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham providing accommodation for 98 homeless veterans – accepting veterans from all over the UK.

OPS Wind/Training, based in Liverpool, is the first company to back a new campaign by sponsoring a veterans’ flat at Launchpad’s Speke House.

The company which delivers safety training for onshore/offshore wind farms, rope access and crane training, has donated £1,000 to the charity which will contribute towards any refurbishment costs and upkeep of one of 50 flats.

OPS Wind/Training is the first company to sign up to the new fundraising campaign and staff from the firm visited the house last week to unveil a plaque which boasts their name in recognition of their contribution to supporting veterans.

They enjoyed a tour of the house, met staff and residents and were presented with an engraved slate plaque to display within their head office.

OPS Training is a gold award holder of the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating its commitment and support to the UK Armed Forces’ community.

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

“We are very grateful to OPS Wind/Training for backing this campaign. The average cost to turn around a void flat for a new resident to move in is £2,000. This includes the costs for any removals and disposal of old furniture and items, re-decorating, fixing electrics and lighting and ensuring all relevant safety checks and certificates are re-issued.

 

“This is a cost to the charity so we’ve launched this campaign to generate additional funds, and the response has been amazing. We have 50 flats/bedsits here at Speke House so if we can generate enough funding to cover these miscellaneous costs, it means money can be allocated to other areas that enable us to continue to provide the support our residents need.

 

“Launching fundraising initiatives like sponsoring a veterans flat is a great way to engage with our corporate partners and they can see first-hand the impact their donation will have.”

Gary Paterson, Training Center Manager from OPS Training, said:

“As a military veteran myself, I am aware that not everything goes to plan once leaving the armed forces. Coming from an environment where your daily routine, accommodation, bills are organised for you, to suddenly finding yourself in need of employment and accommodation and maybe your family, paying utility bills, the list goes on and this can lead to tremendous pressure that can possibly lead to complications down the line.

 

“Having a charity like Launchpad plays an essential role in supporting Armed Forces Veterans, addressing their unique challenges and ensuring they receive the care and assistance they deserve after their service.

 

“Launchpad provides a crucial safety net for veterans, who often face a range of difficulties as they transition to civilian life by addressing healthcare needs, providing financial and employment assistance and housing. The work of Launchpad not only aids veterans but also strengthens communities by working with other Armed Forces Covenant members and that’s why OPS Wind/Training is excited to be supporting this charity.”

Last year, Launchpad’s Speke House provided accommodation and support to 81 veterans. On average, over the last five years, 56% of veterans supported by Speke House have successfully moved on and 28% left in paid employment.

Speke House comprises 50 self-contained, one-bedroom flats and bedsits for former serving personnel and their partners. Launchpad has three houses in the North of England in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham providing accommodation for 100 homeless veterans – accepting veterans from all over the UK.

You now have the opportunity to sponsor one of our flats in any of our three houses.

For £1,000 per annum, per flat, your donation will help make the flat feel welcoming and homely for existing and any new residents moving in. Your donation will contribute towards any refurbishment costs and upkeep of the flat.

The average cost (to the charity) to turn around a void flat for a new resident is £2,000. This includes the costs for removals and disposal of old furniture and items, re-decorating, fixing electrics and lighting and ensuring all relevant safety checks and certificates are re-issued.

Launchpad runs three houses providing accommodation for 100 veterans. This comprises 33 flats at Avondale House in Newcastle, 17 flats at Hollyacre House in Durham and 50 flats/bedsits at Speke House in Liverpool. 86% of the veterans who arrive at our houses are homeless and we support them for up to two years, longer if necessary. These houses often provide the first safe space in which the veteran has slept for months or even years.

As you can see from the photo – OPS Training based in Liverpool are the first company to sponsor a flat at Speke House.

To sponsor a flat or to find out more information, please contact Craig Downs (Business Development Manager North East to sponsor a flat at Avondale House or Hollyacre House) at [email protected] or Gary Perriton (Business Development Manager North West to sponsor a flat at Speke House) at [email protected]

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.