Hero gets flat after he was found living in car

Erewash Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Kate Fennelly, was recently alerted to the plight of an Army veteran who had been living in his car.

She immediately sprang into action – teaming up with Department for Work and Pensions Veteran Specialist Elizabeth Gaunt, the Royal British Legion and the council’s Housing Options team to secure him somewhere safe to live.

The veteran was provided with temporary accommodation while a long-term solution to end his homelessness was found.

He now has a flat of his own in Ilkeston. But a flat is just a space – what he needed was a home.

Ex-Mayor Kate was determined to help him furnish the apartment but owing to a family emergency was unable to collect items herself – so she put out a call for help to local veteran charities and on social media. 

The response was overwhelming. Within hours, the people of Ilkeston came together, donating everything from bedding and kitchenware to a fridge freezer, chest of drawers and even a bookshelf. Special thanks go to:

• Jacob Martin, who not only filled his motorbike rucksack with donations but also became a drop-off hub for others.
• Paula Cresswell, Rachel Cockerill, Georgina Smith, Louis Jennings and Valerie, whose generosity made a real difference.
• Drew, Pam, and Dawn from the Ilkeston RBL branch, who collected items on the veteran’s behalf.
• Lindsay Rice from Everyone Eats, who delivered a generous food hamper.
• Tony, an RBL caseworker, for arranging delivery and installation of a washing machine, cooker and carpets.
• The Derby and Derbyshire Disabled Soldiers Settlement Trustees, who funded a brand-new bed and mattress.
• Cllr Linda Burns, Cllr Harrison Broadhurst and Cllr Geoff Stratford for coordinating collections and deliveries with tireless energy.

Thanks to this incredible community effort, this veteran is now safe, warm, and beginning a new chapter with dignity and hope. He said: “I can’t thank you enough for what you have all done for me. I am overwhelmed by your generosity and support. I can’t wait to meet up soon for a cuppa and to personally thank you all.”