In 2015, Walking With The Wounded’s North West Regional Hub was opened to support the local ex-service community in Greater Manchester. As well as providing an office for the North West team, the hub also offers a Training House with four short-term, supported beds providing accommodation for clients completing their journey back into employment and independence.
Building on their success in Manchester, WWTW now aims to broaden its geographical reach and impact by opening a new support hub in Gateshead. With our focus on early intervention for those hard to reach ex-servicemen and women who have found the transition to civilian life more difficult, the North East Regional Hub will provide a holistic approach to supporting vulnerable veterans into independence. The hub will work alongside WWTW’s existing programmes, as well as other partners in the community, in order to provide support to veterans who are homeless, unemployed, socially isolated, struggling with their mental health or caught up within the criminal justice system.
Early intervention support is only possible by keeping partnerships at the heart of our philosophy. Collaboration is key and WWTW will continue to work alongside many charities, organisations and support providers in order to deliver the best possible support to our clients in the North East.
In June 2018, the charity appointed a Regional Operations Manager to oversee the project and to manage the regional strategic direction of the hub in the coming years. Supported by the Morrison’s Foundation and Gateshead Council, they plan to renovate a late Victorian property to deliver staffing and accommodation support for veterans.
Walking With The Wounded’s new hub will be located at 11 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead NE8
By working in partnership with the North East community, Walking With The Wounded will help vulnerable veterans to reintegrate into their communities and ensure a sustainable pathway to a stable future. They hope to have completed the renovations and be up and running by April 2019.
Delivery Partners for WWTW North East include:
Morrison’s Foundation providing financial support.
Kier Group providing project management support.
Edwards Architecture providing architectural support.
Stannah UK providing Stair lift support.
Northern Gas and Power providing utilities support.
Franks Flooring providing flooring support.
Thompsons of Prudhoe providing demolition support.
Sliding Door Wardrobe providing wardrobe systems.
NEECO Services Engineers
ELVET Construction Consultants
West Port Fire Doors
RWO Associates Engineering Consultants
MITIE Landscapes Front and Rear Gardens
Newcastle Construction Academy Construction Trainee Support
Delivered under a SCAPE Procure Framework
Other partnerships:
Armed Forces Outreach Service (AFOS)
Young Women’s Outreach Project
If you or your organisation would like to support WWTW’s work in the North East, please contact the Regional Operations Manager, Tommy Watson, via tommy.watson@wwtw.org.uk
