Students bring cheer to Veterans hostel

Christmas came early to New Belvedere House this year when a group of Princes Trust volunteers from South Thames College arrived with trees, tinsel and decorations.

Veterans Aid hostel Manageress Pat O’Connor said afterwards “They were lovely, they really fitted in with our guys.  For young people to take the time to work and donate the money for Christmas decorations is just fantastic. And what a great job they did!”

The team decorated the hostel’s foyer, TV lounge and gym/snooker room – and attracted quite a lot of friendly ‘encouragement’ from residents.

For some this will be their first Christmas in the Veterans Aid hostel; for others, a familiar experience. The 57 ex-Servicemen who live there range in age between 19 and 80. Some are unwell, some have addictions, some are perfectly ordinary men who for a variety of reasons found themselves either homeless or facing homelessness. What they have in common is the fact that once – for as little as a day, or as long as 25 years – they served in a branch of the Armed Forces.

On Christmas Day all servicemen and women serving on operations will receive gifts from their friends and families. For a short time, however hostile the environment, they will feel cared for and special.

The ex-Servicemen and women who have found Veterans Aid will also have that experience.  Those whose home is New Belvedere House hostel will get presents, enjoy a ‘Christmas dinner’, watch some festive TV and retire to a comfortable bed in a clean, warm room. Some will relish the company of comrades, others will retreat to their rooms to reflect – perhaps on the events that led them to VA, or maybe the doors of opportunity it is opening for them.
 
Thanks to the young people from the Princes Trust Team VA’s hostel will have three Christmas trees, carefully decorated by some of the young people who worked to pay for them. They are all on their own 12-week voyage of discovery; a group of 16-25-year-olds working to build up their confidence and skill sets, they have much in common with the men whose ‘home’ they are cheering up.

“Everyone here is so friendly,” said volunteer Poshsan Wen, 23. “People came over and spoke to us as soon as we came in. We wanted to do something to help ex-Servicemen and so we looked at a number of organisations on the web. Then we found Veterans Aid and just felt it was the right one.”

New Belvedere House isn’t a home for heroes, although several of the men have campaign medals that they keep proudly with their few possessions. Many have little or nothing when they arrive; most have been alone at some stage, experienced isolation, bereavement, hardship and, in a few cases, prison.

Last year the charity provided 20,000 nights of accommodation and took  more than 2,000 calls for help from ex-Servicemen – and women – from all over the world. Each month it helped an average of  four people get through detox and sustained them through the subsequent battle to stay sober and clean. Veterans Aid is a paradox – its business is unhappy people, but its atmosphere is upbeat. There is warmth and humour at its hostel, and immediate help at its Victoria HQ and Drop-in Centre.

CEO of veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy said “What these young people did is wonderful and its great to see two organisations dedicated to giving people ‘hand-up’ rather than a ‘hand-out’ getting together.”

Prince trust team leader Linsey McCluskie said, “The students are passionate about this cause and it is heart-warming to see young people – some of whom have had difficult lives – give something back to the community.”

To see the video of the event, click on play below.