New Belvedere House, VA’s flagship hostel, is to get a makeover and upgrade.
Long-term ambitions to future-proof and enhance the charity’s 55-room facility have been made possible by judicious planning, generous donations and significant cash injections. These latter include a LIBOR grant and a 50 per cent share of the IES Media Group’s Homeless Veterans Campaign.
As the Campaign closed VA learned that it had been topped up by a further £300,000 donation from Lloyds Bank – which meant a further £150,000 each for Veterans Aid and ABF The Soldiers Charity.
CEO DR Hugh Milroy said, “We still have a way to go, but are so inspired by the generosity of those who have donated so far that I am optimistic and confident about us meeting our target. This charity changes lives and although our Victoria Drop-in Centre is its public face, its heart is New Belvedere House.
“Our vision for the hostel (NBH) is part of the charity’s five year strategy and plan. We had to look at a project that enabled us to build on success without over-stretching us financially or diverting funds needed for delivery of ongoing, core business at our Drop-in Centre. Even for those living and working in the hostel throughout the refurbishment, the impact will be minimal.”
On average, it costs £8.5k to support one veteran in NBH hostel for a year, typically veterans stay 9.6 months before leaving to start independent lives. At this stage they are equipped with the skills required to look after themselves personally (via nutrition, money management, CV writing, benefits advice) and financially (via skills training, education or work placement). For everyone who ‘moves on’, clean, safe accommodation is secured; where necessary it is redecorated and new furniture is bought.
Since the current hostel – ‘New’ Belvedere House – was opened, it has cared for 800 residents but, in a variety of ways and locations, the charity has been caring for veterans in crisis since 1932.
“The faces and spaces have changed,” said Dr Milroy, “but Churchill’s mantra of *Action this day has underpinned its work for 84 years.
“There have been ‘veterans in crisis’ since war-fighting began; but what we see, year in, year out, at Veterans Aid are men and women struggling with largely societal problems. The ex-servicemen and women who seek our help are homeless, hungry, unemployed, dealing with addictions, alcoholism and social isolation.
“Their problems may be ‘ordinary’ in most cases, but because they are veterans, they able to access our ‘extraordinary’ help and much of that is delivered at NBH.”
*In the weeks/months ahead Veterans Aid will update supporters about the project’s progress, showcase fundraising activities and explain in more detail about how the investment will transform this extraordinary veterans hostel into an unparalleled facility.
* Action this day is the sticker that Winston Churchill attached to documents in order to strongly communicate that he wanted something done without delay.
Anyone interested in supporting, donating to or learning more about VA’s New Belvedere House project should contact Linda Ellis on 0207 592 7393 or by clicking HERE.
You can now help Veterans Aid transform its flagship hostel by donating via JustGiving. Please click HERE.
