The Veterans’ Foundation has awarded a grant totalling £170,000 to homeless veterans’ charity Launchpad to support the next phase of development for its Agenda for Change.
Launchpad will use the funding to cover salary costs for four staff as it embarks on its most significant period of transformational change to date, with the delivery of a new strategy and business plan.
Since August 2024, the charity under the leadership of Chief Executive Jill Murray, has developed an Agenda for Change, which has put in place an independent governance review and a new good governance framework. Four new Trustees were appointed to the Board in January along with good governance training for the Board and senior staff. A new risk management and assurance framework was put in place and a comprehensive business plan has been developed. The co-creation of a new five-year strategy with past and present Launchpad residents and staff, is currently under development which will ensure that the voice of our veterans lived experience is at the centre of it.
The Veterans’ Foundation is a long-standing supporter and funder to Launchpad and raises its money through the Veterans’ Lottery and donations. It awards grants to help fund charities that help serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their dependants, who are in need.
The funding will enable the charity, which manages three supported housing schemes in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool providing self-contained apartments for 98 homeless veterans, to drive the charity forward to achieve improved performance and outcomes for Armed Forces veterans.
Demand for specialist veteran’s accommodation and services is increasing, with 361 homeless veterans’ approaching, or being referred to Launchpad in 2024 alone.
Launchpad was recently awarded £295,324 of government funding to continue to deliver the Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme and will work alongside Op FORTITUDE, a government-backed UK wide referral pathway supporting homeless veterans or veterans at risk of homelessness into housing and will accommodate referrals.
It is expected that the charity will provide sustained support to a further 135 homeless veterans across all three of its houses until March 2026. Support will include combined addiction/mental health psychotherapy, intensive training/employment support, greater access to wellbeing enhancing community activities, and support to transition into and retain independent accommodation.
Jill Murray, Chief Executive at Launchpad, said:
“On behalf of our Trustees and staff, I would like to thank the Veterans’ Foundation and those who play the Veterans’ Lottery, for their continued support and this very kind grant.
“This funding will make a big difference to supporting homeless veterans around the UK and help us to deliver our ambitious Agenda for Change programme. The business transformation program has and will continue to make Launchpad stronger and most importantly, it will ensure that our residents are truly at the heart of our strategy and the key objectives which we strive to achieve as a homeless veterans charity.”
“It’s an honour to continue our support of Launchpad, which is a charity that changes and saves lives,” said Jane Gurney, Veterans’ Foundation CEO.
“The Agenda for Change programme will no doubt ensure that Launchpad will grow from strength to strength and allow the charity to open up its support network and high-quality accommodation to more homeless veterans in the UK.”
Launchpad provides vital accommodation and support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans to help them stabilise their lives and make a successful transition from military to civilian life. The houses often provide the first safe place in which the veteran has slept for months or even years.
