MITIE fine gesture brings cheer to Veterans

Seventy ex-Servicemen who would be homeless this Christmas without the intervention of Veterans Aid will not only have a roof over their head - but will have a gift on their doorstep thanks to MITIE.

MITIE provides facilities, property and asset management for some of the biggest public and private sector businesses. It also runs a scheme aimed at meeting business needs for local, sustainable recruitment and the communities' need for sustainable employment.

The relationship between MITIE and the charity for ex-Servicemen in crisis was forged earlier this year when the organisation's Employment Regeneration Director, Jane James, visited VA's Victoria HQ and hostel to see how it could help get unemployed ex-Servicemen back into education, training and gainful employment.

Since then the partnership has flourished and, through its Supply Chain managers, the MITIE Christmas 'goody bag' was put together. Just days before Christmas the London team handed over 70 of the festive, filled carrier bags to Veterans Aid CEO Dr Hugh Milroy and colleagues.

Ian Diamond, MITIE Facilities Management Director (Catering), told colleagues "As you know, we have been contemplating for sometime just how we could provide some tangible Christmas cheer for the 60-plus homeless former soldiers, sailors and airmen who have fallen on hard times - and would essentially be living on the streets this Christmas if it was not for the excellent work of Veterans Aid who focus on getting these folks back on to their feet and back into society again.

"We had considered a myriad of ideas including a Christmas party, but on talking to Hugh he felt that if we could provide something specifically for the individual veterans that they could have to themselves and enjoy over the festive season, this would have a far greater and much more positive impact."

"So thus the MITIE Xmas goody bag was conceived and with the generosity of our supply chain partners, and through the excellent work of Angi Lincoln and her team at the Department for Community and Local Government in putting them together, they became a reality."

After visiting Angi and colleagues to collect the gifts Dr Milroy said "From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of you for doing this for my boys . . . what has been given is more than food and gifts, it is acknowledgement of them as Veterans and as human beings.  All of you have become part of a direct process of change - your acknowledgement may be the key to unlocking the door to the rest of their lives, indeed, in some cases, it may even save their lives!"

"As I write this, the Police have just arrived with an 70-year-old Veteran who spent the night in the foyer of Belgravia police station. He was discharged from a London hospital yesterday and he has no one in the world.  We will take him in . . . now!  And on Christmas day, he will be given presents and food from MITIE and partners. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"