The scheme is a collaboration between Lovell, Alabaré and affordable housing provider Stonewater who have teamed up to give ex-military personnel workplace training, mentoring and the opportunity to secure a new affordable home.
The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory, KBE, CB, DL was eager to speak to the veterans on the scheme and hear how the programme is supporting them into new careers, and a new home which they have had the chance to help build.
Sir Andrew took a tour of the site and spoke to the veterans to hear how the scheme has impacted their lives since leaving the military.
Sir Andrew said: "It was an absolutely inspiring afternoon, witnessing how a major house builder, a veteran's charity, and wider initiatives can support service leavers, especially those who need extra help to build skills and find a future direction in life. The work being done by Veterans Self Build, along with the support of Lovell, is creating that very environment. I believe we should consider how this model can be expanded regionally and even nationally, especially given the government's new housing targets and the valuable skills veterans possess. Wearing both my Vice Lord-Lieutenant hat and as Chief Executive of SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, I see tremendous opportunities here."
One of the veterans who is approaching the end of his year on the scheme is Chris. Chris, who is currently living in Salisbury, served in The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles for four years, and saw service in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Chris sought help from Alabaré after his relationship broke down and he lost his home.
Chris said: “This program has saved my life, I was living in the woods at my lowest Eb and now I am about to move into my house and start work. It has been really hard but amazing.”
The Veteran Build Experience has been running at Drummond Park for two years so far, with six veterans already benefitting from taking part. The former Defence Medical Equipment Depot is being developed by Lovell into a community of 412 homes, including 103 affordable homes managed by Stonewater.
Each veteran has the opportunity to join the Lovell workforce, learning valuable, transferable skills to increase long-term employment. At the end of the programme, each has the opportunity to live in one of the homes managed by Stonewater that they have helped to build.
Sir Andrew also spoke to the partners to understand their vision for the future of the Veteran Build Experience and how it is contributing to the vision of ensuring no veteran in the UK faces being homeless.
Andrew Lord, CEO at Alabaré, said: “I am very proud of the achievements of the veterans who have taken part on the community build scheme. It is wonderful to see Chris and Jack overcome issues they have faced in the past and gone onto gain new skills, employment and their own rented home.
“The third cohort of participants have just started, and the initiative continues to provide real opportunities for veterans in the construction industry.”
Regional managing director at Lovell, James Duffett, said: “The Veteran Build Experience at Drummond Park is incredibly important to us, and we are very proud to have shown Sir Andrew Gregory our vision and passion for this scheme.
“This project is not only helping ex-military personnel to develop new skill sets and explore new career opportunities, whilst living in homes they have proudly helped to build, but it is also helping us at Lovell to diversify our workforce and bring new talent into the construction industry. At Drummond Park we are building not just homes but a legacy, and we are committed to supporting each veteran who joins the scheme.”
Matthew Crucefix, Director of Development (South & West) at Stonewater, said: "At Stonewater, we have a long-standing commitment to supporting our veterans, ensuring they have the tools, opportunities, and stability to thrive in civilian life. The Veteran Build Experience is the latest in a series of initiatives we've championed, building on our successful collaborations to create both employment and housing opportunities for those who have served our country.
“From our partnership with Alabaré that has provided life-changing support to veterans, to our ongoing work through self-build schemes, we’ve seen firsthand how transformative these projects can be. Witnessing veterans gain not just a home but also the confidence and skills to rebuild their lives is incredibly inspiring. We're proud of the progress we’ve made and remain dedicated to expanding these efforts, helping more veterans secure a brighter, more stable future."
Alabaré is a charity which helps to transform the lives of homeless and marginalised veterans, providing accommodation and helping them to gain skills, confidence and opportunities to live a fulfilled life. To find out more, visit https://www.alabare.co.uk/. Eligible veterans can find out more about the scheme by contacting Gary Chapman on 07980 968132.
For details on Stonewater, visit https://www.stonewater.org/.
For more information on Lovell and the homes available at Drummond Park, visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/developments/drummond-park/.
