Homeless veterans benefiting from £20k grant to charity
Alabaré's Boots on the Ground programme is rebuilding lives thanks to the cash from the Army Benevolent Fund
A scheme supporting veterans across the south west is benefitting from a £20,000 boost.
Alabaré's Boots on the Ground project has partnered with the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) to continue its commitment to supporting the lives of former service personnel.
The scheme provides outdoor activities to ex-military men and women accessing the Salisbury-based charity's homelessness services across the region and in Wales, allowing them to boost their mental health, physical fitness, emotional resilience, and social integration.
Activities include hiking, gardening, kayaking bushcraft and ironmongery, as well as UK and overseas based heritage projects to maintain and improve access to community assets.
Gavin's story
Among those to benefit from the programme already, is Gavin.
He arrived at Alabaré's Homes for Veterans in Bristol after becoming homeless, addicted to heroin and losing contact with his mother and daughters.
Gavin weighed less than eight stone and severely malnourished, while he had an aggressive demeanour towards those attempting to help him.
But after engaging with the Boots on the Ground team through a desire to learn how to cook, Gavin has transformed himself in just six months.
He's now a healthy 11 stone in weight, eating well and exercising daily. He's also reconnected and rebuilt his relationship with his family, as well as address his behaviour and continuing to recover from drug addiction.
He's also working towards a bushcraft qualification.
Gavin puts the turn around in his life down to the Boots on the Ground team and Alabaré.
“To be honest, it’s a new world for me. I can’t put it into words. It’s an amazing experience to be in nature so often," he said. “I have to thank (ALABARÉ’s) Boots on the Ground immensely because when I first started coming out, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself.
"The first time we went on a walk, I realised I still had fitness in me. I was dead two years ago, in a coma, so when I realised, I could still do that sort of stuff, it gave me a massive boost. This was the foundation for me. It’s inspired me to do a lot more, and I feel safe being part of the activities.”
Gavin's story is one of many success stories from the scheme, which has provided more than 200 sessions for veterans in the last financial year, with 88% of participants reporting a boost to their wellbeing as a result.
Positive steps forward
The ABF described Alabaré as a "valued partner charity", in a post on social media, saying: "“This year, we awarded £20,000 towards their Boots on the Ground programme, which provides mental health recovery for homeless ex-Armed Forces veterans. Through time in nature, outdoor activities and volunteering on community and heritage projects, the programme helps veterans rebuild confidence, improve wellbeing and reconnect with others.
“Boots on the Ground runs alongside ALABARÉ’s supported accommodation across the South West of England and in North and South Wales, offering veterans a safe, structured and positive way forward.”
The charity hopes to be able to allow more people to rebuild their lives, as Gavin has, thanks to the support of the ABF grant, with the hope of including more activities as well as offering the service to young people and homeless adults.
Boots on the Ground Manager, Karen Langley, said: “I’m so proud of what the Boots on the Ground programme has achieved with veterans taking part, and I’m looking forward to having more people directly benefitting from the activities.
“I’ve seen some huge transformations in our clients, and they’ve gained new skills that will ultimately support their journey towards independence and future employment. ALABARÉ’s mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds. By having people within our supported living accommodation attending sessions, we’re actively working to round off that circle.
“I’d like to pass on my thanks to the Army Benevolent Fund for their ongoing support for the Boots on the Ground model, and for recognising the life-changing difference it’s making to so many of our veterans.”