A newly refurbished dining area for homeless veterans at Edinburgh’s Whitefoord House has been unveiled today. The charity Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) invested over £160K in the project with the support of donors including ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, BlackRock UK, The MacRobert Trust, Poppyscotland, The RAF Benevolent Fund and Trinity House Maritime Charity.
Frank Ross, Edinburgh’s Right Honourable Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost joined residents at Whitefoord House, which provides housing support services for 85 homeless veterans, to formally open the new facilities.
They include a whole new servery area as well as upgraded decoration, flooring, furniture and fittings and the provision of a variety of seating areas and options. The new decoration includes large monochrome portraits of eight residents which will form a key feature of the dining room walls, highlighting how veterans are at the forefront of the work carried out by SVR.
The Whitefoord House dining room is used by residents three times a day and, for many, it provides a place for social interaction. The improved security that accompanies this refit will now enable 24 hour access to the space as a new, comfortable social area.
Martin Nadin, CEO of Scottish Veterans Residences, said:
“As an organisation committed to the well-being of homeless veterans, we’re pleased to have completed this latest upgrade to our facilities. This newly refurbished and modernised dining room is designed to appeal to the wide age range of our residents making it more suitable for individuals with mobility difficulties and those dealing with mental health issues. The re-design brings a more flexible approach to dining and creates a relaxing community space outside of meal times which will encourage further social interaction and better suit the overall needs of our residents.”
If you are interested in attending the event or would like further details, please contact Bill Shaw on 07974 720669 or bill@billshaw.uk.com
Scottish Veterans Residences
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) provides unique and unrivalled residential accommodation for the UK’s ex-service men and women of all ages. Each year it supports around 200 ex-service men and women.
SVR first opened its doors on 1 January 1911 and, through both world wars and modern day conflicts in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, its residences have met the needs of some 60,000 ex-servicemen and women. Today the 3 residences in Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow provide registered housing support services delivered by highly qualified staff, along with activities, mental health support and employment mentoring.
SVR is a Scottish Registered Charity number SC 012739
