New home for Veterans Aid
Veterans Aid, the UK’s frontline operational charity for veterans in crisis, has moved to new headquarters.
From Monday 11th December 2017, after 12 years in Buckingham Palace Road, the charity will be operating from 27 Victoria Square, SW1W 0RB, just yards away from its old premises. Number 27 is the latest in a series of properties that have provided a base for the charity’s activities during its 85-year-history.
CEO Dr Hugh Milroy said, “The lease on our old HQ and Operations Centre had expired, but in making a virtue of necessity we have managed to secure premises that are larger, more fit for purposes and welcoming. Clients will have more privacy and staff a better working environment. I hope that all our partners, supporters and service users will spread the word about VA’s ‘new home’.”
VA’s Ops Centre is strategically placed at the Victoria transport hub because so many homeless people are drawn to London. Invariably some of them are veterans. Dr. Milroy said, “Early contact and extensive networking enables us to prevent, or halt, the process that leads to homelessness. Very few of those we help go back to street life and our recidivism rate is extremely low.”
Although Veterans Aid is London-based its reach and impact is international. The charity has helped ex-servicemen and women from 67 countries and dealt with settlement issues on behalf of 611 individuals. In 2016 it provided 22,000 nights of accommodation for ex-servicemen and women in crisis.
In addition to its Westminster HQ & Ops Centre VA owns New Belvedere House, a 65-bedroom home in East London that is presently nearing the end of an £8.2m redevelopment.
