Annual Report 2013 1 Contents Our People 3 What we did in 2013 4 Chairman’s Introduction 5 Chief Executive’s Report 6 Graeme’s Story 8 Bellrock Close 10 Residents’ Activities 12 Events and Fundraising 14 SVHA Management Committee Report 16 Review of Operations 18 SVR Financial Information 20 SVHA Financial Information 21 Balance Sheets 22 Governance 23 2 Our People The Executive Team Ian Ballantyne Phil Cox George Corbett Maurice Rourke Chief Executive Chief Executive Depute Chief Executive / Human Resources / (ret’d December 2013) (App’d December 2013) Property Services Manager Administration Manager Susie Hamilton Kath Davidson Eddy Gorman Yolanda Archibald Fundraising and Administration Assistant Manager, Bellrock Close Voids and Allocations Marketing Manager Officer The Rosendael Team The Whitefoord House Team Max McLennan Alison McQuillan Marjorie Kelly Ken Morrice Manager Depute Manager Manager Depute Manager 3 What we did in 2013 182 11 Veterans in total Veterans helped January–December 2013 into employment 35 155 Veterans helped Veterans helped to move on to with benefits independent accommodation 29 102 Veterans helped with pensions Veterans helped to access health services 20 55 Veterans taking part in activities Veterans helped into eg fishing, archery, cycling, training/education tai chi, gardening, gym 4 Chairman’s Introduction On behalf of the Trustees I am delighted to submit the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts for the Scottish Veterans Residences. The report also includes an update base our future activities. Our fundraising on the activities of the Scottish efforts have also been highly successful Veterans Housing Association Limited, and of particular note was a significant particularly on the good work that grant from the LIBOR fund to support continues to be undertaken within our the Bellrock Close Project. Furthermore, residences in Edinburgh and Dundee. extensive work has been undertaken Of note is also the fast paced and to ensure that our rent charges are ongoing development of our new optimised in line with legislation to facility which is currently being built ensure best value for money and that at Bellrock Close, Glasgow. This is occupancy of our homes is maintained an exciting development which will at as high a level as possible. provide a transition facility for 30 veterans and is the first to be built in It has been a year of real progress for Scotland. Our stock of independent Scottish Veterans Residences and I am living flats and houses will also deeply grateful to the Trustees for their expand with the completion of some commitment and support to this most 21 units alongside the Bellrock Close worthwhile cause. I must also report transition centre. that our long serving Chief Executive Lieutenant Colonel Ian Ballantyne Although we are beginning to see retired after 16 years at the helm of the seeds of economic recovery it has this great Charity and he handed been a difficult environment in which over to Group Captain Phil Cox in to manage investments and to raise December. The Trustees wish Ian a income. Our portfolio however has long and happy retirement. performed well and has paid excellent dividends which will continue to provide Major-General Mark Strudwick CBE a solid bedrock upon which we can Chairman of the Trustees 5 Chief Executive’s Report The year began on a very positive note with the commencement of ground works at the Bellrock Close site in Glasgow. The start of work on the project is the Close. The members of the Cranhill culmination of many years of effort Association and the residents of Cranhill and when completed it will provide a have made very clear their support first class facility offering much needed for the work we are doing and this will support to our veterans. Furthermore greatly assist us as we bring the project the Bellrock Close manager’s post was on-line next year. A ‘Topping Out’ recruited and filled mid-year leading ceremony, attended by Keith Brown the to a real sense of progress and the Scottish Government Veterans Minister, new incumbent has begun to scope was held just before Christmas. The and develop the support plan that Minister nailed the last slate onto the will serve the veterans who enter the completed roof marking a key milestone transition service. There are some in the projects progress. delays within the building programme but I still anticipate taking over the Success has also been the benchmark building and facilities in summer 2014. of our ongoing work at Whitefoord House and Rosendael. Additions to The success of the Bellrock Close project the managerial teams within both will also rely heavily upon those who homes has greatly strengthened the will provide support and advice to oversight and delivery of support the veterans with the transition service. to our veterans along with planned An extensive series of stakeholder improvements to facilities and a engagement exercises and outreach development of the loft at Whitefoord to the local community has also House in order to provide 6 more en- been undertaken. I’m delighted with suite one bedroom accommodation. the commitment shown by so many organisations who have stepped in to Our fundraising efforts have also help support the delivery of Bellrock borne fruit with a voluntary income of 6 (final figure) which included significant 2013 has been a year of real grants from the Royal Navy and development and progress for Scottish Royal Marines Charity (£100,000), Veterans Residences; this could not The Robertson Trust (£250,000), have been achieved without the Scottish War Blinded (£413,000), The contribution of volunteers, staff, MOD LIBOR Fund (£233,488), Royal funders and supporters who have Air Force Benevolent Fund (£25,000) work collectively to improve the and Merchant Navy Welfare Board lives of some of our most vulnerable (£18,000). In April we were delighted ex-Service people. I am also to have Carol Smillie launch our immeasurably grateful for the support Bellrock Appeal at an excellent provided by the Trustees. reception on The Tall Ship in Glasgow and a short advertising campaign Phil Cox raised the profile of SVR, particularly Chief Executive in the Glasgow area. 7 Graeme’s Story Graeme is 51 and resident of Whitefoord House. This is his story. Graeme joined the Army Catering in 1999 with £12,000 in his pocket Corps in 1978 and in 1980 completed but spent it all in 6 weeks and found his Airborne Training enabling to serve himself homeless once more. He found with Airborne units. out about Whitefoord House and when he arrived was the youngest After several operational tours in person there at 38 years old. He Northern Ireland he left the Army in stayed for a year at Whitefoord House 1992 as he did not want to go back and left when he found a job in there and his wife was pregnant with security and a new partner. their first child. He went on to have a number of civilian jobs including head Having been diagnosed with mouth chef at an Agricultural College and cancer Graeme gave up drinking for 6 also joined the TA. years but when his relationship broke down he turned to alcohol once more. When his marriage broke down in 1997 he returned to Full Time Reserve Graeme once again became Service, partly as he was homeless, homeless, he was troubled with and returned to Northern Ireland for nightmares from his time in Northern 3 back to back tours. At the end of Ireland and suffered the repeated this period he returned to Edinburgh blows of losing both his parents in one year, his job and his house. He formulated a plan: to take out a £3,000 loan, spend it all on drink and then commit suicide. His only quandary was how he was going to take his life but Everyone from the before he had decided, he bumped cleaners to the manager into a member of staff from Whitefoord wants to help House. He was persuaded to go back to Whitefoord House, although at first 8 Stuart, a young veteran meets with his Support Officer he felt it was a backward step having bottom once more when his daughter been there 15 years earlier. tragically died in a car accident, but with support from the staff and other But this time he says that Whitefoord residents at Whitefoord House he has House is completely different, with carried on. a huge amount of support on offer. ‘Everyone from the cleaners to the Graeme has only been at Whitefoord manager wants to help’ he says. He House a few months but already has a is particularly thankful for the help new job and is about to move into his from his Support Officer who ‘did own flat. He still has challenges to face everything they could possibly do’, but is emphatic about what SVR has including assistance with employment, meant to him: ‘If I hadn’t come here his health, accommodation and even there is absolutely no doubt, I would getting his car back. He reached rock be dead.’ 9 Bellrock Close Building at Bellrock Close started on 14 January 2013. Despite the terrible spring weather the project has progressed well and by December we were able to hold a ‘topping out’ ceremony to mark the completion of the external works. In June the Manager of the new “As the Housing Support Manager for service, Eddy Gorman joined us Bellrock Close it is my responsibility and began his task of setting up to ensure that my staff and I live up the registered housing support to expectations by delivering a high service and holding events to quality service providing veterans engage stakeholders in the project.