Church Housing Trust recently helped to fund a fantastic summer garden party for homeless veterans living at Mike Jackson House.
The team of staff at Mike Jackson House in Aldershot, which has living spaces for 25 ex-Services personnel, hosted the open-house garden party for the local community, including prospective employers, and the Mayor of Rushmoor, Councillor Martin Tennant.
Scheme Manager Christopher Symons said: “We wanted the local community to see our work first hand and lend their support to veterans as they adjust to civilian life.”
Cllr Tennant added: “I was delighted to attend this event and support Mike Jackson House in its critical and important role in providing housing, health and well-being services to ex-service personnel, made even more poignant by Aldershot’s historic links to the British Army.”
The Mayor of Rushmoor has chosen Mike Jackson House as one of his three charity partners this year, to help raise awareness and money for new furniture, equipment and repairs.
Fifty-year-old Jeremy Morrish, a former member of the Household Cavalry and a Mike Jackson resident since August 2013, conducted the Woking Wind Orchestra on the day. Jeremy said, “I have been involved in music all my life, music has helped me get through tough times. I wanted to throw the spotlight onto Mike Jackson House and the fantastic work they do by performing at the scheme’s mid-summer party with this fabulous orchestra. Mike Jackson House has been life-enhancing for me and I can’t thank the team enough.”
The event was also attended by volunteer physiotherapists, counsellors as well as members of the Ripple Pond a local, peer-led, self-help support group for the family members of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, reservists and veterans.
