It is with great pleasure that the AF&V charity, AFV Launchpad, took receipt of a cheque for £ 171,288 from
the Big Lottery Fund today. AFV Launchpad helps those vulnerable armed forces
veterans returning to civilian live in Newcastle.
While
in uniform, support for servicemen and women includes planning for
accommodation and job search, however, all support ceases once they have left
the Forces. Those who leave early may have only had a month or two with the
Forces after leaving school and so are unprepared to find employment,
accommodation. Older veterans have become dependent on the Forces providing
them with meals, accommodation, clothing and financial budgeting. Many are slow
to plan for leaving and don’t take full advantage of the support while it is
offered when they are still in uniform.
AF&V
Launchpad supports such veterans. The charity offers accommodation at Avondale
House on the Byker Estate reserved solely for veterans and their partners where
they are offered training, work placements and job search skills. They are also
offered skills in cooking, welfare, benefits, GP and dentist registration,
financial management and developing social networks through sport and
volunteering.
David
Shaw, Chairman of AF&V Launchpad, said: “The Big Lottery Fund grant that
Armed Forces' & Veterans' Launchpad has just been given is hugely important
- it enables the charity to pay for the manager of Avondale House in Newcastle
for the next five years as well as provide some much-needed training
facilities. Through close partnership
with the Byker Community Trust, Launchpad has provided 34 refurbished flats to
veterans of the armed forces and their partners in Newcastle, in Avondale
House, on the Byker Estate.
“The
new manager will run the house, developing good connections with partner
organisations, ensuring the house is full of residents, helping the residents
with financial and social matters, as well as ensuring the infrastructure is
well maintained. Working with other
organisations in the public, private and third sectors, the new manager will
assist the veterans in finding permanent jobs and accommodation. Veterans will
also receive training to ensure they stand as good a chance of finding jobs as
they can.
“Since
opening in August 2013, over 40 veterans have used, or are using, the
facilities and assistance provide by Launchpad through Avondale House. Given
that about 10 per cent of members of the armed forces come from the North East
and then return home there, and given the number of applicants Launchpad has
already experienced, there is no doubt that many veterans will benefit from
this project in the future. As a
consequence of the creation of Launchpad and thanks to Big Lottery funding,
fewer veterans in the North East will suffer homelessness, unemployment and
social exclusion.”
For more information visit the AFV Launchpad website
