Pathfinder International Magazine – the leading UK Military Resettlement Magazine

Tag: Homelessness

  • Take To The Skies To Commemorate D-Day

    Take To The Skies To Commemorate D-Day

    South-west based veterans’ charity Alabaré are offering brave participants the opportunity to take part in two incredible fundraising events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings…

    On Sunday 16th June, the charity will be hosting a skydive at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury with all funds raised from the event going towards their Homes for Veterans service. Amongst those scheduled to participate are Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police Kier Pritchard and Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey.

    Then on the 30th July at Rendcomb Airfield, Gloucestershire, there will be the thrilling opportunity to wing-walk! Those taking part will be flown by one of the highly experienced display pilots, who are often members of the world renowned Breitling Wingwalkers’ team, flying the historic 1940’s Boeing Stearman biplanes. Flying at speeds of up to 150mph, this promises to be an exhilarating event for a very worthy cause.

    Laura Knight, Alabaré’s Community Engagement Officer, says: “These events promise to be thrilling fundraisers that help to provide much needed funding for our Homes for Veterans services. The participants who are taking on the challenge will help to make a real difference to the lives of ex-service personnel who have fallen on difficult times.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Funding Boost For Homeless Veterans

    Funding Boost For Homeless Veterans

    Veterans who have become homeless, or at risk of it, will be supported through an extra £1 million boost, the Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has announced…

    The money will help ensure those who have served their country have a roof over their heads and have the support they need once leaving the Armed Forces. The fund will be shared among the ten combined authorities and the Greater London Authority who will be able to use the funding to provide veterans with the bespoke support they need as they navigate civilian life.

    Money could also be used to direct former soldiers to existing specialist support services on offer, such as access to supported housing and training for staff on mental health issues, including PTSD, and how to support those former service personnel who may initially be reluctant to receive help.

    Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: “For those who fall on hard times and end up on the street, it is only right that we give them all the support they need to put a roof over their head. Local authorities across the country already provide much needed support for veterans, but this boost will allow them to go further and ensure that more people have access to valuable services, such as housing advice or mental health support.”

    Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The vast majority of those leaving the Armed Forces go on to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives, but it’s right that we support those who struggle. One veteran on the street is one too many and I welcome today’s announcement on funding to address homelessness and rough sleeping.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘My Life As A Cold War Spy’

    ‘My Life As A Cold War Spy’

    Alabaré’s Wiltshire Ambassadors are delighted to be hosting ‘My Life as a Cold War Spy’ on Wednesday 13th March at St. Francis’ Church, Salisbury, and it promises to be a fascinating evening with a talk by Major General Peter Williams CMG OBE on his time spent as a military spy during the Cold War…

    His career focused on military intelligence and liaison but was also spread across the spectrum from operational command to military diplomacy during and after the Cold War. During the Cold War he served in Berlin from 1973 to 1975 as a Regimental Intelligence Officer.

    He then spent more than four years in the 1980s in Berlin and East Germany as an officer in the British Commander’-In-Chief ‘s Mission to the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (known as BRIXMIS), in effect working as a military spy. In 1983 he was awarded an MBE for his success as an intelligence collector and analyst.

    This promises to be a memorable talk with proceeds going towards Alabaré’s work with homeless and vulnerable veterans in Wiltshire. Alabaré, with its headquarters and homes in Salisbury, is the largest provider of Homes for Veterans outside London, assisting hundreds of ex-service personnel to re-establish themselves in civilian life.

    Tickets are available here.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Homeless Veterans Charity Appoints Ex-Army CEO

    Homeless Veterans Charity Appoints Ex-Army CEO

    The housing charity Scottish Veterans Residences has appointed Martin Nadin OBE as its new Chief Executive Officer who takes over from Phil Cox who is retiring after five years in the role…

    After initially training as an Army biomedical scientist in 1977, Martin later graduated into the Royal Army Medical Corps from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1989. He then served in the Middle East, Africa, Northern Ireland, the Balkans and Afghanistan. In that time he was responsible for the planning, delivery and governance of worldwide healthcare support for deployed military personnel and their families.

    In 2016, after spending three years as its Director of Medical Capability, Martin left the Army to take on a new role within the NHS. He became project director for one of the largest NHS Foundation Trusts in the country, with an annual turnover of £1.6bn and 20,000 staff. He later became project lead on behalf of the West Midlands Cancer Alliance to create an integrated digital network for histopathology diagnosis across its region.

    He holds a post-graduate diploma in Managing Health and Social Care, and an MA in Management. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Management.

    George Lowder MBE, Chairman of Scottish Veterans Residences, said:  “We are delighted to welcome Martin as our new CEO. His career background and qualifications bring an ideal combination of military, medical and management experience along with knowledge of the social care sector to this role. I look forward to working with him as we continue our important work of supporting homeless veterans.”

    Scottish Veterans Residences provides unique and unrivalled residential accommodation for the UK’s   ex-service men and women of all ages each of whom has his or her own fully furnished en-suite accommodation and lives in a supportive community environment.

     

     

  • Remembrance Weekend Skydive

    Remembrance Weekend Skydive

    Alabaré’s commemorative skydive took place on Remembrance Weekend, with over 50 participants taking to the skies…

    A further 50 will complete the jump next week – a total of 100 skydivers commemorating 100 years since the end of World War 1. Participants have raised vital funds for Alabaré Homes for Veterans which provide shelter and support to vulnerable ex-service men and women.

    Skydivers included Alabaré CEO Andrew Lord, Police Constable Kier Pritchard, the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, High Sheriff Nicky Alberry, High Sheriff Mark Thistlesthwayte and Alabaré Community Engagement Officer Laura Knight.

    Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “I’m skydiving to commemorate 100 years of the end of World War 1, to show respect and also to remember those who served.

    “I’m also jumping to raise awareness for the tremendous work that Alabaré do for people who have suffered from the tragedy of war and have also suffered with the transition into civilian life. I’m really proud to have raised money for them – they do such an amazing job.”

    Alabaré Community Engagement Officer Laura Knight said: “I would like to thank each and every skydiver who braved the jump today and helped not only fundraise for Alabaré but commemorate 100 years since the end of World War 1. You are all superstars! I’m really looking forward to welcoming the second group next week.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • BIG Sleep Behind Bars Success

    BIG Sleep Behind Bars Success

    Over 60 brave fundraisers spent the night at Gloucester Prison on October 5th to take part in Alabaré’s BIG Sleep challenge…

    Participants swapped the comfort of their own homes and bedded down for the night at the historic disused Victorian prison, all in the name of raising funds for Alabaré’s Homes for Veterans service.

    The event also offered a unique opportunity to visit the venue and enjoy a tour before the prison closes its doors for good on October 14th to make way for a housing development.

    Rebecca Mullen, Alabaré’s Fundraising and Development Manager said: “We would like to thank all of those who took part for stepping up and helping us to make a real difference to the lives of Veterans who have fallen upon hard times.

    “Gloucester Prison proved to be an exciting yet challenging venue but one we felt was enjoyed by our participants as it provided an insight to the conditions faced by those who find themselves in a position of vulnerability.”

    All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting homeless and vulnerable Veterans by providing them with the care and accommodation they need to help them make a successful transition back in to civilian life.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Glasgow’s Helping Heroes Wins Community Grant

    Glasgow’s Helping Heroes Wins Community Grant

    A Glasgow charity is celebrating after making a successful bid for funding from Nationwide Building Society for its work to support housing for veterans and their families in the area…

    Nationwide, the UK’s biggest building society, has been looking to support charities dealing with the many issues around housing in Scotland and has made £250,000 available to help make a difference across communities across the region. Glasgow Helping Heroes has been confirmed as one of those that has been successful in receiving a grant of £25,000 to support its work.

    Glasgow’s Helping Heroes is a partnership between SSAFA and Glasgow City Council, to support the serving community, veterans and their families. The team offer holistic help and advice on issues such as housing, employment and training, dealing with debt or financial issues as well as assistance relating to health problems.

    Nationwide invited applications for grants of up to £50,000 for housing projects that have the potential to strengthen communities and help make a difference in local areas, ranging from preventing people from being homeless, helping people into a home and supporting people to remain in their homes.

    Rachel Tribble, Service Manager Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, said: “We are delighted that the work we do with the Armed Forces community in Glasgow has been recognised by Nationwide. We’re extremely grateful for the incredibly generous grant which will help us reach more veterans and their families in need.

    “Our plan is to launch a new ‘Tenancy Support Programme’ that supports veterans to successfully sustain new tenancies. It will offer support to manage their homes – by paying rent on time, budgeting, taking meter readings, and knowing who to call if something goes wrong.”