Veterans living at Launchpad’s Speke House accommodation in Liverpool have benefitted from a community grant from the Asda Foundation to purchase food, hygiene and wellbeing products.
A total of £750 worth of products was donated from the Hunts Cross store via the Asda Supporting Communities Grant to support up to 48 residents living at the house.
Staff at Launchpad applied for the grant funding, which is offered to projects where communities are transformed and lives can be improved.
Food items including tins and non-perishables were donated to make up food packs, while hygiene products such as shower gels, toothpastes and deodorants will also be included and distributed in welcome packs to new residents but also given out to current residents.
Baking items and ingredients were also donated to allow up to 20 residents to take part in a wellbeing project to make pancakes, allowing them to socialise and learn new skills.
Natalie Scully, Assistant Manager (Projects) at Speke House, said: “We are delighted to receive ongoing support from the Asda Hunts Cross store. This is the third time the branch has reached out to us to support our veteran residents.
“The items that have been donated to residents have made a huge impact, especially the baking products, which allowed us to bring residents together for a social purpose during a time when we were unable to have days out. Projects such as baking can have a positive effect on the mental health of our residents.”
Chloe Rose Millington, Asda Hunts Cross Community Champion, said: “Asda Foundation grants are about bringing people together and improving the lives of those in our communities. We are proud to offer continued support to the veteran residents living at Launchpad’s Speke House, particularly during these challenging times.”
Earlier this year, the store donated boxed sets of deodorants and shower gels and bales of towels and at Easter, the made sure all residents received an Easter Egg.
Since 2013, the charity, which also has a house in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, has supported over 510 veterans. In a typical year, 71% of residents successfully move on to settled accommodation and 42% (pre-pandemic figure) leave in paid employment.