Leading homelessness charity ALABARÉ has received a £30,000 boost from the Veterans’ Foundation for its Boots on the Ground wellbeing programme for former military personnel.
The sessions, attended by clients in ALABARÉ’s Homes for Veterans supported living accommodation, are proven to boost physical and mental health, prevent social isolation, and build strong communities.
Through nature-based activities, participants harness the power of nature, experience the outdoors, and work on projects such as horsemanship, garden maintenance, canoeing, bushcraft, and ironmongery.
‘It was a voice from the light into the dark – ALABARÉ saved my life’ – Steve’s story
Steve joined the Army’s Royal Engineers as a teenager and, after leaving the forces, worked in the railway industry, but struggled with addiction. He said:
“I found it difficult in civilian life; the Army was the only family I’d had. I joined a bike club and saw some horrible things, but I felt like part of another family. I got dragged deeper and deeper into it, and along with that, the drugs started. It began with speed and became more hardcore with crack cocaine and heroin. I was taking drugs for the best part of 40 years.”
Steve came to ALABARÉ in April 2022, which he describes as ‘a voice from the light into the dark – a hand reached out and pulled me out of there’.
His journey since has seen him embrace Boots on the Ground activities, to give him structure and routine, a sense of purpose, and grow stronger community links.
He’s also greatly reduced his alcohol consumption and is clean from drug taking, saying:
“I’ve come off the methadone tablets I was on and have been off for over six months now. It was ALABARÉ that did it, and I love them for it. My anger’s gone, and I can honestly say I’m a happy man now.”
“I’m almost 65, and ALABARÉ has given me another chance at life. They saved my life. Without them, I’d be dead now, either by my own hand or somebody else’s, because that’s the sort of life I lived.”
Steve moved into independent living in December 2025 but continues to engage in ALABARÉ activities, such as the current Heritage that Heals visit to Malta.
Boots on the Ground Supporting Local Communities
ALABARÉ delivers more than 200 Boots on the Ground activities for veterans in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, and across Wales each year.
Nearly 90% of people taking part report improvements in their emotional wellbeing and more than a third (35%) reported a boost in their physical health.
Participants regularly give back to their local communities through volunteering and conservation work.
Boots on the Ground veterans have spent the football season helping out at National League South side Salisbury FC, stewarding the car park, supporting the crowd safety team and assisting fans with stand transfers.
A group from South Wales have been volunteering weekly at Margam Country Park near Port Talbot, doing jobs such as weeding, clearing pathways, maintaining fences and keeping visitor areas tidy.
Gary Chapman is Head of Veterans’ Services at ALABARÉ and said:
“Boots on the Ground makes a massive difference to the lives of our veterans and helps to break the cycle of homelessness by giving them new skills, confidence, and positivity.
“Our thanks go out to the Veterans’ Foundation for their support of wellbeing sessions to help former military personnel overcome some of the mental and physical challenges they’ve faced following their service and help them navigate towards independence.”
Through the support of the Veterans’ Foundation grant, ALABARÉ is looking to increase its range of Boots on the Ground activities and opportunities for veterans in the local community to take part.
