Alabaré chairman urges veterans to engage with support services
Sir Andrew Gregory wants to help more ex-military personnel get back on their feet in his new role with the homelessness charity
Veterans across the south west are being encouraged to engage with support services by a fellow veteran and new chairman of a homelessness charity.
Sir Andrew Gregory, who has taken over as chair of Salisbury-based Alabaré, wants to help former service personnel who've fallen on hard times get back on their feet and return a sense of purpose to their lives.
Sir Andrew, who is formerly Controller of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is hoping to use his military connections to boost the lives of those in difficulty.
While he stressed that many veterans adjust to civilian life well, he said some do struggle for different reasons.
"That is a very lonely place to be," he said. "But that is where a charity like Alabaré, which really starts by taking people not quite from the gutter but not far off, can make a difference.
"We can give them a sense of purpose."
The charity runs it's Homes for Veterans scheme across the South and South West, including in Salisbury, Gloucester, Bristol, Plymouth, Swansea, Cardiff, Pontypridd and Gosport.
The service provides safe, support accommodation while offering a variety of support for specific issues, such as finances and mental health, in order to empower minds and restore hearts.
Overcoming the biggest barrier
Sir Andrew explained that when he finds a veteran living on the street, he asks them to share their service number, to prove they are genuine.
He said: "Once they've shown that they're genuine, then I always ask them 'who's helping you? What is your plan? Why are you here?'
"The challenge for veterans is too many of them are too proud to ask for help."
He said getting veterans to overcome that particular barrier is tricky, but he stressed that reaching out for help is nothing to be ashamed of.
"If we can help them realise it's not a sense of failure, we're here to assist them, we can help them on that journey back to independence and dignity."
We can find out more about how Alabaré supports veterans here.