Our funding is set to benefit hundreds of disadvantaged ex-servicemen and women every year for the next 100 years.
We have seen the demand for our homeless support services increase dramatically over the past year. Last year saw 45% more veterans come forward needing our help compared to the year before. Considering more than 6,000 veterans are estimated to be living on our streets, the support from BAE Systems has never been more important. We cannot thank them enough for their generous gift and we are proud that Kent organisations are rallying to support this project which will be a beacon of light for veterans all over the country Lisa Farmer, RBLI’s Chief Executive
Based in Aylesford, the RBLI’s Centenary Village will see the charity provide homes and welfare to support hundreds of disadvantaged veterans every year. Due to open later this year, the site will comprise of 22 adapted apartments for veterans in urgent need, 16 new family homes, and a further 24 assisted living apartments for older veterans. Future construction will see the addition of a state-of-the-art community centre with accessible gym built on the site.
We have also pledged our support to the charity’s ‘move on’ care pathway model, which helps progress homeless veterans from the charity’s emergency accommodation into its more independent housing.
Our Rochester site Director, Dave Banks, and a member of our veteran community, Chris Chambers, visited the project to meet the veterans our donation will directly support. They were given the opportunity to place the final plaster panel, making the house ready for veteran’s currently living in RBLI’s emergency accommodation to move in.
We are immensely proud to be supporting this nationally significant village project right in the heart of Kent. It is no secret that military veterans can face immense challenges upon leaving the Armed Forces, or perhaps even many decades later. It is vital that people are there for them to provide the support they deserve – and that’s what RBLI do. Their move on model is specifically designed to help veterans, who have fallen on incredibly hard times, to regain their independence and essentially restart their lives. It will be truly life changing. Dave Banks, Dave Banks, BAE Systems’ Rochester site Director
Our Armed Forces put their lives on the line to keep us all safe and they do this so that we can live our lives to the full. In addition to supporting our customers in keeping their countries safe, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that support active service personnel, veterans, and their families.
