Military charity Help for Heroes is providing a grant of £246,000 to Stoll, the leading provider of supported housing to Veterans, to enable more wounded, injured and sick veterans living in London to rebuild their lives and empower them to make a positive impact in society…
The three-year partnership will enable two Stoll members of staff to act as the operational arm of Help for Heroes and provide outreach services to wounded, injured and sick veterans. Help for Heroes currently run four Recovery Centres across the UK; Tedworth House in Wiltshire, Chavasse House VC in Colchester, Phoenix House in Catterick and The Naval Service Recovery Centre at HMS Drake, Plymouth.
The funding will help ensure more veterans living within the M25 can easily access specialist welfare support on a range of issues including financial help, housing, health or employment support.
Stoll Veterans’ Outreach Service is a project that provides support and assistance to Wounded, Injured and Sick Ex-Service men and women’, including those in Transition. In the first year, we anticipate that Stoll’s life changing work will support 130 wounded veterans, of whom 90 per cent will be more independent as a result of receiving the service.
Claire Barnes, Head of Grants at Help for Heroes, said: “Help for Heroes was founded upon the belief that those who put their lives on the line for us, deserve a second chance at life for them and their families. We are delighted to be able to work with other organisations and the Service’s own charities to ensure that the wounded and their relatives get the speedy support and opportunities they so richly deserve.
“We are determined to reach those who haven’t yet come forward, the need for our services is still there. This grant funding to Stoll Outreach will help enable the wounded military community in London access the best support for their needs and we look forward to seeing how many lives are changed for the better as a result of this exciting partnership.”
Isaac Gogo is one of the first Veterans to be supported by the Help for Heroes and Stoll partnership. Issac, 36, served in the Army from 2003 to 2016 as a Sergeant in the Royal Logistic Corps, touring both Iraq and Afghanistan. He was medically discharged with a knee and back injury. Stoll worked with Isaac and his family to find a property that they could call home. In November, they moved into a 2-bed property in Fulham, with a garden and are settling well into their new house.
Isaac said: “When your whole world starts crumbling down and you’re thinking ’what should I do next?’ it can be really hard. My transition before Stoll had been quite stressful. I really didn’t think this could happen for me and my family, but now I’m very positive about what will come next for us.”
Isaac studied Law whilst in the Army and is hopeful for the future. “I want to move on in life and give the best to my kids. To all those ex-Service men and women that find themselves in my situation, I want them to know that there is help available and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Chief Executive of Stoll, Ed Tytherleigh said: “This service will identify people leaving the Armed Forces who are wounded, injured and sick. We will provide our bespoke service to enable each Veteran we support to tackle the barriers that prevent them living an independent, fulfilling life. This may include making sure they have a place to call home as well as healthcare and employment support. We are delighted to be working in such close partnership with Help for Heroes and know hundreds more Veterans will benefit from our services.”
The support can be accessed face to face, by telephone and email. If you are a veteran who is wounded, injured or sick and in need of support, please visit www.stoll.org.uk, email outreach@stoll.org.uk, or call 020 7385 2110 to find out more.