Aroundtown Magazine July/August 2022

FAMILY
years’ combined service in the
Women’s Royal Army Corps and
Royal Signals.
Some of the volunteers have
been on the receiving end of the
charity, sharing their perspective
of experiencing first-hand the
life-changing work the team does.
They’ve known the natural dangers
that come with life in the military, but
also the camaraderie, stability and
discipline that’s hard to replicate in
civilian life.
Former Royal Anglian, Andy
Martin, was helped by the charity
in 2015. He served in the army for
eight years before being medically
discharged for back surgery. Due
to complications, he later became
paralysed from the waist down.
Soon after, his marriage broke down
and Andy found himself homeless.
The charity helped Andy apply for
a ground floor council flat which
he says has turned his life around.
He volunteers to share with other
veterans how they too can make
civilian life work for them if they get
access to the right services.
Richard Parker is another
volunteer who has had to cope with
the physical and mental strain of
being discharged early from the
military due to medical grounds.
After joining the army at 16, Richard
says he never imagined leaving
but was medically discharged after
21 years in the artillery after his
section’s vehicle hit an IED in Iraq.
With a young son at home, Richard
lived with painful injuries to his legs
for many years before it led to a
heart attack in 2014 due to pressure
on his arteries. Last year he finally
had his leg amputated after the
operation was cancelled four times.
Although he had help from
military housing, Richard says it
was just an empty shell with no
furniture or belongings so he found
himself sofa surfing up and down
the country.
“People didn’t know but I
had PTSD, was going through a
breakdown and had attempted
suicide. During lockdown Steve got
in touch to ask if I was struggling
and if I wanted to meet for a coffee.
Within an hour and half, he had got
a bed for me and my son, kitted us
out with appliances, plates, towels,
everything we’d need. It broke my
heart. I’d previously contacted big
military charities and have finally
heard back 19 months later. Team
means together everyone achieves
more and without that team I
wouldn’t be here. If it wasn’t for
“
The volunteers work tirelessly to make
sure nobody is forgotten and have
received numerous awards for their
work, including the Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Service in 2020 and an MBE
for founder, Tom.
”
people like Steve and Tom us
veterans would get left on the
wayside.”
Last year, the charity helped 99
people across the country in various
ways, with the figure set to grow
as the cost of living crisis tightens
its grip on the most vulnerable
in society. The volunteers work
tirelessly to make sure nobody
is forgotten and have received
numerous awards for their work,
including the Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Service in 2020 and an
MBE for founder, Tom.
But it is by their deeds that
they’re known.
“Money is our lifeblood and
we have a constant battle for
fundraising. It was particularly
difficult during Covid but we have
reserves for the next 12 months to
fund the new premises. It will cost
us about £12,000 a year to run but
it will be money well spent if people
benefit from the support we’re able
to give,” says Steve.
With no funding from government
or local authorities, Help 4 Homeless
Veterans are indebted to the
generous donations they receive
from the community. This year,
they were one of two chosen
charities at the annual Match
4 Heroes football event which
Rotherham referee, Mick Webb, is
involved in organising.
“I’m not a veteran but these guys
give their lives for us so every bit of
help is good help. The event was
originally set up by the parents of
fallen soldiers in Huddersfield so it’s
always had a military connection.
This year we had an army team,
police team, Huddersfield legends
team and a local team from
Golcar where the match was held.
It raised £13,000 which was split
between Help 4 Homeless Veterans
and the Yorkshire Regiment
Benevolent Trust.”
The drop-in centre, based on
Regent Street South in Barnsley
town centre, is open three days a
week, Monday, Wednesday and
Friday from 10am until 2pm, but
there is always someone at the end
of the phone if help is needed.
For more information about how to get involved, visit
www.help4homelessveterans.org
If you or someone you know is a veteran needing immediate help,
call 07305 260 798
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 57