We at VIVO Defence Services are proud to be partnering with Launchpad, a charity helping veterans who need extra support making the move from the armed services to civilian life.
Launchpad provides accommodation and other assistance for those who have left the forces regardless of when they made the move.
The charity has helped more than 600 veterans over the past decade, providing accommodation at locations in Durham, Liverpool and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
More than 90 per cent of armed forces veterans seeking support from Launchpad are homeless and need a safe, accepting space while they make the move into civilian life.
In addition, many have mental health issues ranging from anxiety to service and non-service-related PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
And we have started a two-year corporate partnership with Launchpad, which includes providing £10,000 corporate sponsorship.
This funding will help Launchpad provide support to the armed forces community in a variety of ways, including mental health support, career training and advice and accommodation for homeless veterans in need.
We have also committed to arrange for its employees to visit Launchpad’s locations to provide workshops, job training and advice on seeking employment.
David Shaw, CEO and Co-Founder of Launchpad, said: “We are extremely grateful to Vivo Defence Services for their support.
“As a charity, it is important we work with corporate partners to support our resident veterans on their journey and to help them to live independently.
“We are looking forward to welcoming their employees into our houses to work with our residents and provide a range of training and employment opportunities.”
Jerry Moloney, our Managing Director at VIVO Defence Services, added: “As a major provider of maintenance services to the UK military, it is important to us that we help those who have served our country when they leave the armed forces.
“We already have a target in place of at least 20 per cent of the new people we employ having a military connection and we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for armed forces’ leavers.
“Our partnership with Launchpad will help provide important life changing support for veterans who need extra assistance to ensure their move to civilian life is as successful as possible.”
VIVO is a joint venture between Serco and Equans and we work solely for the UK military and its partners providing asset and facilities management services as well as maintenance for the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and the United States Visiting Forces (USVF) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation..