The Macari Foundation in Stoke-on-Trent has received a £22,000 grant from the Veterans' Foundation to support its work helping homeless people, particularly former servicemen and women.
The charity, founded in 2016 by former Stoke manager Lou Macari, dedicates six of the rooms at its centre specifically to accommodate homeless veterans. Nationally, figures show there are currently 400 servicemen and women living rough around the UK.
Support tailored to veterans' needs
Paul Macari, the charity's operations manager, explained that veterans may have slightly different needs to other people the charity supports, so the organisation can identify what assistance they require.
Martin Palmer, the centre's veteran liaison lead, said that veterans tend to feel more comfortable speaking to someone who has been in a similar position. Palmer believes the Macari Foundation is the only local facility that has veterans on staff.
Transition from forces to civilian life
For many of the veterans the charity supports, the move from the armed forces into civilian life presents significant challenges. The armed forces provide administrative support that disappears once personnel leave the service — from sorting council tax to handling day-to-day paperwork.
The Macari Foundation's approach includes continuing to meet with veterans after they have left the centre's accommodation. Palmer visits some of the veterans every Friday, sometimes "just for a cup of tea and to put the world to rights".
A veteran's experience
Paul Mountford, a veteran supported by the centre since January, said: "They've been phenomenally kind and phenomenally helpful. They're there to listen, not to judge and that's what's good about it." Stoke-on-Trent City Council has told Mountford that he can have a residence of his own, which he will move into once one becomes available.
