Date published: 02 August 2021
“I felt trapped. I was living on my brother’s sofa – thankful to have a roof over my head but it was still no place to call home. Being out of work is disheartening, I would get up and just watch TV. The repetitive cycle doesn’t make you feel good about yourself and you being to feel disconnected from society.”
Eight per cent of the UK’s armed forces community lives in Herefordshire and there are a number of social support programmes available for veterans transitioning from military life. It was at one of these enterprises, Firstlight Trust, that Gavin learned about a community self-build project.
“I wanted to see something change in my life. I was put in touch with Alabare, an organisation that was working on a regeneration project at Waterworks Lane. The project manager from Alabare heard my story and said he would be happy to have me onsite for a few days a week. It was just what I needed.”
The project brought together local charities and organisations to demonstrate how they could successfully work with one another to tackle the housing crisis. This included Herefordshire Council, Alabaré, the Longleigh Foundation and local contractor - J Harper and Sons Ltd – that worked directly with the veterans on site.
The idea behind the self-build programme was to enable veterans to build their own homes whilst learning new, transferable skills to widen their employment opportunities and provide them with stability.
“I found a sense of belonging and purpose - every day we were learning something new. Initially we were just working on the houses, but we ended up cleaning up the community garden as well as concreting the lamppost and bike sheds. I felt part of something bigger.”
2020 was a tough year for many but moving into his home for Christmas showed Gavin that his hard work and commitment had really paid off.
“The pandemic meant we had to keep our distance from each other onsite but it didn’t stop us showing up and putting the work in. Working with the boys, we all get on and now they all live nearby – I don’t feel socially excluded. I can see them for a coffee and a chat and get back to feeling myself again - being a cheerful guy.
“It’s been a horrible year for so many. It’s the best feeling to have something good come out of it - to have my own place now and have everything that I need.”
To learn more about the project, listen to our On the Air podcast, Tackling Veteran Homelessness: Six Months On.