National veterans’ charity Launchpad has received a grant of more than £36,000 from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity towards specialist support, heating costs and practical items for residents living at Launchpad’s two houses in Newcastle upon Tyne and Liverpool.
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity provides lifetime support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families. They invited applications for grant applicants to support specific projects that will be undertaken in the next 12 months.
The grant will contribute towards the costs to provide ongoing support through the appointment of a specialist case worker (SCW) at Avondale House in Newcastle upon Tyne, which comprises 33 self-contained flats and is the city’s largest veterans’ accommodation provider. The SCW is responsible for working with residents to overcome mental health, alcohol and drug use and gambling addictions.
In addition, a proportion of the grant will contribute towards heating costs, welcome packs for new arrivals and grants for individual residents to assist their transition to independent living. In total, over 35 individual residents will benefit from the grant.
The grant will also cover costs for welcome packs to new residents moving into Launchpad’s Speke House in Liverpool which provides safe, secure accommodation and other essential support to 48 veterans.
David Shaw, CEO and Founder of Launchpad, commented:
“We are very grateful to the Trustees of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for approving this grant which ensures the vital work we provide to our veterans can continue at a high standard. Launchpad is an outstanding charity, providing high quality accommodation as well as holistic support to meet the needs of each resident.
“Like many charities, the pandemic has had an impact on our ability to help veterans as we usually do – activities have been curtailed and distancing and isolation have impacted the veterans’ mental health, but our staff has worked hard to overcome the detrimental effects. Our ability to receive personal and corporate donations has also been affected and this grant will provide crucial support to the veterans as they transition to independent living.”
Brigadier Peter Monteith, Chief of Staff of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity adds:
“We are delighted to be helping Launchpad provide affordable heating to the residents of Avondale House in Newcastle. Even seemingly small improvements like this can make a huge and positive impact on the quality of life of former soldiers as they reintegrate into wider society.”
Launchpad provides accommodation and a wide range of support for up to 80 residents across both houses to help them make a successful transition to civilian life.
Since 2013, the charity has supported over 500 veterans. 71% of residents successfully move on to settled accommodation and 42% (pre-pandemic figure) leave in paid employment.
