ABF The Soldiers’ Charity have recently awarded Changing Lives a grant of £65,000 towards the cost of running and developing their specialist residential veterans support at both Brims and Bibby House.
Changing Lives provides specialist support services for thousands of vulnerable people and their families, every month. Through their pioneering and innovative work, they help people to make positive, lasting changes in their lives.
Although they began as a homeless charity, today Changing Lives work with people suffering all types of social exclusion by reaching out to communities across the country. They offer specialist support services for women and families, dedicated recovery centres, temporary and long-term accommodation opportunities, and employment and volunteering opportunities.
Helping with accommodation is a huge part of Changing Lives who offer a wide range of specialist projects for people at risk of homelessness, sleeping rough, or sofa-surfing. Referral is usually through the local authorities in the areas in which they operate – Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Durham, York and Halton.
Mark Prinn, Services Manager, commented: “We would like to thank The Soldiers’ Charity for funding our Veterans Services Brims and Bibby. These services are a specialist veterans’ supported accommodation services covering Newcastle and Gateshead which will support ex-service personnel with multiple and complex needs.
These centres offer tailored support to every person we work with. Our Veterans’ Support Workers walk with veterans on their journey towards self-sustainability and a more fulfilling life, acting as a consistent and reliable source of support. They empower our veterans to be the main force of change in their lives, and help them to take ownership of that change with the skills and knowledge they need to move towards independence.
It would not be possible to deliver life-changing services like these without the support of The Soldiers’ Charity.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity adds: “Supporting our veterans to get back on their feet and to help direct them down the right path is essential in improving their wellbeing and future. Changing Lives do a fantastic job in providing quality care and support for those who need it. We would like to thank them for all of their hard work.”