Housing support for the armed forces community

March 2021

Video transcript

Hello I'm Councillor Ed Malcolm and I'm Chairman of the Armed Forces Forum for South Tyneside Council and I'm here today outside the dedicated veteran's accommodation in Bedford Avenue at Laygate.

This accommodation has been developed to help Armed Forces return into civilian life.

Many Armed Service personnel who return to civilian life can find the transition quite smooth, however there are those who will not find the transition so smooth and that's why we are here to help those veterans who find it difficult to make that transition into civilian life.

This is a dedicated accommodation where former service personnel can come, they have a year's tenancy and they are given support and help to help with employment, welfare rights benefits and any other service that the council can provide.

Hi my name's Lee, I'm the Armed Forces Support Officer. I'm stood outside the resettlement block at present, we have nine flats here. Like I say it's a resettlement block so you do get priority leaving the Forces.

The level of support we have here is employment support, if there's any vulnerabilities, mental health support. You get to stay in this property for a year, it's a year's tenancy and within that year you'll be supported by me moving forward through the resettlement process.

We're very proud of the veteran community in the South Tyneside area, we have some great support services, we have NAAFI Break South Shields which is run by Joe Mills, it's a fantastic support service. Me and him work hand in hand together to support our veterans within the region.

Hi there, my name's Mark Campbell, ex-veteran, I moved into this block of veteran's flats last March 9^th so I've nearly been here a year. I've been collecting bits and bobs for house, for when I get my new house. I'm on band one now, priority for housing which I'm in the process of looking for a house at the minute so hopefully should be out of here in the next month or so.

The block of flats is safe, you've got your intercom, you've got your video-com, always feel safe there's no threat or any trouble, it's a quiet block of flats. I've really enjoyed living here and will miss it.

The objective is that they will be here for a year and then move onto more permanent accommodation.

There's no Armed Forces personnel who returns to South Tyneside who will not be housed, they are given the priority on our housing list.

So I want to say today that if you know of anyone, or if there are any Armed Forces personnel watching this, if you need help from South Tyneside Council, then please get in touch with South Tyneside Council and we will do our utmost to help you.