MBDA UK is the latest company to make a donation to veterans’ charity, Launchpad.
The company, which is a world leader in the development and manufacturing of missile systems supplying equipment to the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, has donated a £4,000 grant towards the costs of supporting one of Launchpad’s residencies.
The charity provides accommodation and support with the assistance of specialist providers, to help veterans stabilise their lives and make a successful transition from military to civilian life.
The donation has been made available through MBDA’s corporate social responsibility fund and Andy Pedder, Defence and Political Adviser (Land), said: “Launchpad is making a real and direct difference to former armed services people, supporting them to build a better future. We are delighted to be associated with this work.”
David Shaw, CEO of Launchpad, said:
“We are most grateful for MBDA’s support and it is fitting that, as some of our residents across both houses worked with MBDA’s products when they served, we are able to sustain the link now.
“We are always very grateful to organisations and individuals who give donations as this contributes towards the costs of running the charity and enables us to continue provide the service we do for our residents. We have 80 bedsits spread across two houses so this will benefit us hugely.”
In 2018, Launchpad supported 152 homeless and unemployed veterans. The charity costs around £740K annually to run and relies on donations from individuals and businesses to continue running. Avondale House in Byker has 32 self-contained flats and Speke House in Liverpool has 48 bedsits. Both houses provide communal spaces and gardens for residents to socialise and they also undertake volunteering activities.
For more information on this press release, please contact Craig Downs from Up North Communications on 0191 300 0810, 07811 287 922 or email craig@upnorthcommunications.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
AF&V Launchpad is a registered Charity Number 1153185 and Company Number 8633047.
For more information about Launchpad, please visit www.veteranslaunchpad.org.uk
Launchpad welcomes donations to support its veterans, through its website
Key partners that Launchpad work with are: Liverpool City Council, Newcastle City Council, Big Lottery, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Royal British Legion, Veterans’ Foundation, Forces
Employment Charity, Addaction, Crisis Skylight, the NHS, SSAFA, Speke Training and Education Centre and Combat Stress, among many others.
Achievements in the last year have been as follows:
– 48% of residents settle into independent living with jobs
– 60% of residents settle into independent living, on benefits and may be looking for a job
– 25% of residents move on without significant change to their wellbeing, but all will have benefited from Launchpad’s support
– Over 400 residents have benefited from Launchpad’s services
– Launchpad won the ‘Working Together’ award in the national ‘Soldiering On Awards’ and two founders were awarded the Prime Minister’s ‘Point of Light”.
– Shortlisted for this year’s Heropreneurs Awards, award announced Autumn 2019.
