AF&V Launchpad

Coronavirus update

We all have to follow guidelines of social distancing, staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives Read more
Launchpad awarded £140,000 to improve veterans’ mental health and wellbeing

Launchpad has received two grants worth £140,000 from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, as part of its Positive Pathways programme. Read more
Speke House to benefit from major refurbishment

Launchpad's Speke House is set to benefit from a major refurbishment thanks to funding of £73,000 from Forces Support Read more
Launchpad wins national award in recognition for service to veterans’

Launchpad won the Veterans' Foundation award at Heropreneurs Awards 2019 Read more

WHAT IS LAUNCHPAD

Launchpad is a veterans' charity registered with the Charity Commission (AF&V Launchpad Limited No. 1153185).

WHO DOES LAUNCHPAD SUPPORT?

80-90% of veterans who become residents with Launchpad come from a homeless background and 100% suffer from one or more of these challenges:

Homelessness
Poverty
Unemployment
Broken families
Mental or physical illness or injury (about 6% are formally diagnosed with PTSD)
Alcohol or drug over-use
Other welfare issues
Some of the veterans have come straight from prison
A few have just left resettlement plans late on leaving the Army, or are briefly in transit from one job to another or one location to another
Veterans may have served a few days or weeks to 20+ years in any of the armed forces
Their ages range from 18 upwards and can be of any faith, gender, race and so on.

We strive to reduce homelessness.

WHAT DO WE DO TO SUPPORT VETERANS?

Launchpad provides veterans with accommodation (their own refurbished, one-bedroom flat) and communal facilities, for which they pay rent, either using housing benefit or income or savings, for up to two years.
Working with other organisations (see them by clicking here), Launchpad provides support to those veterans to acquire jobs, via some training if necessary, and permanent housing. The charity provides confidence-boosting, character-building and social development activities, working with other partners, to aid their transition and integration into civilian communities.
Launchpad aims to get its veterans into employment and permanent housing, and contributing to society within two years.

Working together, we support veterans as they plan a successful transition to independent living

WHAT ARE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS?

Achievements in the last year have been as follows:

48% of residents settle into independent living with jobs
70% of residents settle into independent living, on benefits and may be looking for a job
20-30% of residents move on without significant change to their wellbeing, but all will have benefited from Launchpad's support
385 residents have benefited from Launchpad's services
Launchpad won the “Working Together” award in the national “Soldiering On Awards”
Point of Light winners 664 and 665 here

Apply to live with Launchpad

Donate here, please

Where we work

Launchpad has two houses - one in Speke, Liverpool and one in the Byker Wall Estate in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Coronavirus update

We all have to follow guidelines of social distancing, staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives

Launchpad receives donation to the tune of £3,600

Sing United presents a cheque for £3,660.86 to Launchpad

James sets sights on North Africa’s highest mountain

Launchpad ambassador James Rose is raising money for the charity by climbing Mount Toubkal this September

Grant boost received from QMRT

Launchpad has received a £10,000 donation by Queen Mary Roehampton Trust (QMRT)

North East veterans use fishing to help their mental health

Veterans living at Avondale House have been fishing this week to help with their mental health

Garfield Weston Foundation awards £30,000 grant to Launchpad

The Garfield Weston Foundation has donated £30,000 to Launchpad

Helping veterans overcome challenges when leaving service

We provide accommodation and support to veterans to help them transition from military to civilian life.

Help our Veterans (This is not the NHSBSA appeal)

Help us help veterans who are in need! The picture supporting this appeal is of a Launchpad resident, Shaun, and you can read his unique story elsewhere; unique it may be, but typical of the people Launchpad's WONDERFUL staff support. Please help by making a donations - go to the donate page.

Our Stories Intro

Veterans' Stories

Every Launchpad veteran has a unique story to tell. They make you realise why Launchpad exists and why we should support it. Read more

Latest News Intro

Latest News

Launchpad Wins National Award

Launchpad wins the "Working Together" Award in the National Soldiering On Awards Read more
Launchpad's Veterans Help the Local Community

Launchpad's Veterans Help Children in the Local Community Read more