Page 213 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Alabare homes for veterans
With over 3,000 people using their
homes and services each year, Alabaré
see individuals from all backgrounds - many far from the stereotypical image
of a homeless person. High living costs, stagnant unemployment and cuts to benefits leave a constant drain on family purses and there are plenty of pressures waiting around the corner to tip the balance towards a downward spiral. Alabaré have been supporting people to overcome homelessness since 1991. They have met people from all sorts of backgrounds along the way, but a few years ago they noticed that a sizeable percentage of the people we were supporting came from the Forces.
Alabaré opened their first Veterans Home in Plymouth, in 2009, and now five years on, are proud to say that they are the largest provider of dedicated accommodation for homeless Veterans of working age, outside of London. They run Homes for Veterans
in Bristol, Plymouth, Weymouth, Salisbury, Gosport and Fareham, and of course Gloucestershire. Alabaré’s Homes offer Veterans the support they need to move on live more independently; gaining the skills they need to transition to their own home. They have received great support from
the local community and have a fantastic group of Mentors & Befrienders who are volunteers who live locally and link up with the Veterans, providing them with a friendly face and someone who will stand by them as they take their next step back into independence.
The majority of people who leave the Armed Forces make a successful transition to civilian society, but a significant minority struggle - either immediately or sometimes several years later. Alabaré’s Homes for Veterans have been specifically created to help ex-Service men and women overcome all kinds of crises: having served their country, sometimes the hardest part is waiting for them when they return home.
In contrast to the structure of Forces life,
they may find themselves having to budget, often for the first time in their lives, and
can sometimes fall into debt. Others may struggle with finding new employment. Whilst some may find that the scars that they’ve brought home aren’t physical but emotional.
These Homes for Veterans support
those who are struggling to overcome the obstacles that are preventing them from leading successful independent lives. Alabaré’s aim is to enable them to achieve permanent stable housing; engage in work; enjoy their leisure; and where relationships have broken down - to reconnect with friends and family. When they move on
from the homes Alabaré hope to see them living successful and fulfilling independent lives - playing their part in society and fully integrated into the local community in which they choose to live. When a Veterans moves into any of Alabaré’s Homes, they become part of their community support network, and can always turn to
them for future advice.
can provide. In order to be accepted each Veteran has to sign an agreement that they are committed to engaging with the support worker and sign that they accept and will adhere to the house rules.
Some of their residents may have mental health problems and a small number may have some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are still many stigmas surrounding mental health, and people can often feel uneasy at the thought of living next door to someone experiencing issues, but it’s important to note that 1 in 4 of us will suffer from a mental health condition at some point in our lives. The issues faced by Alabaré’s residents are relatively common amongst the general population. All of the Veterans living in their homes are addressing their issues with Alabaré’s support and the support of specialist agencies. The charity have particularly strong links with Combat Stress, who are considered the leading
experts in helping ex-service personnel suffering from PTSD.
Alabaré hope to continue expanding their services across the UK, so that they can provide support to the future generations
of service men and women who may
need a helping hand when they return home after supporting our country. The charity was delighted when the board of
the Gloucestershire Planning Committee unanimously approved their application to open a second Home for Veterans in the Gloucestershire, this time in Longlevens. The opening of this home will mean that Gloucestershire Homes for Veterans can now support 12 vulnerable veterans in Gloucester who have previously struggled in their transition to civilian life.
We need your help to support our veterans. Please visit: www.alabare.co.uk/ theme/veterans to find out more.
The model of
accommodation and
support that they
provide for our Veterans
has been developed
through their close
partnership working
with over a dozen major Armed Forces charities including the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and Help for Heroes. Walking with the Wounded and the RFEA have partnered with them in their Bristol and Gloucestershire Homes to provide an employment advice service for the wounded veterans. They have listened closely to the feedback from more than 250 veterans who have been supported across their homes. Their decision to expand their Homes for Veterans is based on the need in an area, and they take advice from local partner organisations. Every person in their homes is assessed on an individual basis and they would not accept anyone who required more support than we
Alabaré have been supporting people to overcome homelessness since 1991
The Rifles and RGBW Association
Our major reunions this year were largely very well attended:
a. 22 Mar 14 – a service, march and dinner in Gloucester.
b. 1 June 14 a lunch in Devizes.
c. 12/13th July 14. A reunion dinner followed by a Drumhead
Service and lunch on 13th July. Attendance was the highest
that has been seen for many years.
d. 26/27th July 14. The Maiwand weekend in Reading which
consisted of a dinner and service, parade and lunch the
following day.
Many branches have held their own events. One of the major ones is the Somerset Branch who once again held a very successful Imjin Commemorative lunch in April with 116 members, wives and guests from the regimental family as well as other Branches from various Regiments. The timing this year
could not have been more appropriate as only the day before our Korean Veterans returned from the unveiling of the magnificent memorial erected by the citizens of the City of Paju, South
Korea in recognition of the Glosters role in the Battle of the Imjin. Amongst the returning Veterans was octogenarian, former POW, Ben Whitchurch from Bristol. The event raised £400 to charity split between the ABF and C4C.
September 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Loos where the predecessor Regiments of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, fought side by side. The Association very much looks forward to supporting and participating in the battlefield tour to the area organised by 2 RIFLES to commemorate this most important battle.
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEWS 211