People actually doin’ stuff works though:
Homeless veterans have built their own houses under a charity scheme run by a special forces veteran.
Six previously homeless veterans have completed a self-build scheme of 19 affordable dwellings in Leominster, Herefordshire, and will be enjoying Christmas in their new homes.
Each veteran has secured a new house for themselves and their families through a partnership between the charity, Alabaré, Hereford Council and Stonewater, a housing association.
The remaining houses will be used by the local authority.
The first keys were handed over on December 17 to Dwain Lugg, a former soldier in the Rifles.
Mr Lugg, 30, who served for five years before leaving the army in 2012, said he lost his home when his marriage broke down.
He told the Telegraph that despite the current restrictions, his first Christmas with his sons Jacob, eight, and Matthew, two, will be “amazing”.
“Until now I’ve had no safe place to take them. No security.
“I’ve gained a home, which is more valuable than anything.
“To me this Christmas is going to be the best Christmas I could imagine.”
The building project has facilitated Mr Lugg’s qualification as a Site Supervisor. Through the charity Alabaré he also has a diploma in Construction Technology and has reskilled in plastering, tiling and painting.
For years I’ve vaguely thought about a TV programme. Easy enough to do as I’ve absolutely no idea at all of the details of either building or programme making. Take veterans like this. Train them up in building skills by actually going building. Presumably by building stuff – conversions for missing limbs, oldieying houses for aged veterans etc – for other veterans. Film it all. Cut to make fun programme.
Pay for the building work with the fees from the TV station.
Glad to see that someone else has actually thought properly about this sort of thing and is managing to get ‘er done.
Mr Lugg, 30, who served for five years before leaving the army in 2012, said he lost his home when his marriage broke down.
He did not lose his home. The state took it and gave it to his disloyal ex-wife. A soldier deserves better from Britain.
All the rest I agree with but compared to the damage the British government does to descent British people like Ms Lugg, this is just a bandaide on a bleeding wound.
A good plan –but most reality shows seem to be about creating conflict to titillate morons. A positive upbeat show where people help themselves–and have a working-class lads laugh about it as they do–would find few friends on woke tv.
Have to be an Inet job probably
There’s a Yank ex serviceman gold mining on Discovery with some other veterans.
Often thought of calling up REME to suggest a live ex to fix the local bridge closed for over a bleeding year, causing an annoyingly long detour which is probably why it has a pill box sprouting saplings from it. They could do that up too.
Pendants ok not REME just RE.
How did this work in detail then? Did the Housing Association apply for planning permission first, then involve the charity? Or did they use the charity’s credentials to influence the planners’ decision with emotional appeals? (“You must approve this development, or else Tiny Tim won’t have a house for Christmas!”)
It’s important that the rules are applied fairly to all.
But if we actually solved the problem there’d be no need for offices full of overpaid charity workers bleating to the media 24!
On Twitter and YouTube and elsewhere there is another veteran who is helping his fellows, especially those suffering from PTSD. He also does a bit of campaigning against the illegal immigrants (they are not refugees). He is The Little Veteran.
https://twitter.com/VeteranLittle
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswuxJJWbFqDW6XQxW-uxMg
As an ex serviceman who tries to keep in touch with various veterans groups, I’m ashamed to say I knew nothing about this until recently. As mentioned above, this would have made enthralling television with, possibly, a regular input by politicians, local, national, and those who are supposed to represent the military. If the BBC had shown it, I might even have bought a tv licence so I could watch it. Shame on everyone who knew about this and ignored it, and congratulations to those involved. It’s people like this who deserve New Year’s honours lists, rather than a self opinionated multimillionaire who drives a car which has not been built with slave labour since 1945.
The problem is jobs. There’s no point getting a bunch of veterans together and building places for them if there are no jobs there.
And if there are jobs, then they probably can afford a place.
Sometimes things will align and it can work. But the practicalities will always make it difficult.