Veterans in Crisis extension to boost its lifeline offering in Sunderland

A lifeline charity which supports veterans and their families is to boost its offering with an extension to its Sunderland headquarters.

Work has started on the extension to the Veterans In Crisis head office in Roker Avenue - thanks to a Sunderland architectural and civil engineering firm.

BDN, which is also behind the transformation of Sheepfolds Stables and Eastgate Point on the former Littlewoods site in Hendon, did the whole extension design for free as part of its annual charitable commitment.

It’s been a big boost to the plans for the extension, which have been years in the making, with Petrie & Sons doing the building works as well as sponsoring the new VICs breakfast club at The Community Shop in Fawcett Street.

The extension will significantly improve accessibility throughout the building, creating a welcoming space for veterans with mobility needs while allowing Veterans in Crisis to expand the support it offers to the community.

The new extension will include improved wheelchair access, hearing loops and enhanced wayfinding for visually impaired visitors, helping to ensure the charity’s services are accessible to everyone.

In addition, the new space will allow Veterans in Crisis to broaden the range of activities it offers, including art therapy, wellbeing sessions, book clubs and community events, alongside practical support such as provision of cooking facilities, laundry access and shower facilities.

Paul McLoughlin, Business Development Manager at Veterans in Crisis, said: “We are incredibly appreciative of everything BDN has done for us. They have gone far beyond what we could ever have expected and the support they’ve provided has been exceptional.

“As a small community interest company, funding is always a challenge, and we rely on generating our income to deliver projects like this. Having BDN contribute their expertise as part of their social value commitment has been immense for us and has helped turn what started as a simple idea into a transformational project.

“It will also allow us to expand the activities and support we offer, helping even more veterans rebuild their lives. When the project is complete, it will be a fantastic example of what can be achieved when businesses and charities work together for the benefit of the community.”

Since 2018, Veterans in Crisis has helped more than 500 homeless veterans into housing and continues to provide emergency accommodation, food bank support, counselling delivered by qualified therapists with lived military experience and a wide range of wellbeing services.

Luke Darwin, Director of Structural Engineering at BDN, said: “Supporting projects like this is something we’re incredibly passionate about. Veterans in Crisis provides life-changing support to former members of the Armed Forces and we’re proud to have been able to contribute our architectural, structural and civil engineering expertise to help make this vision a reality.

“Accessibility was at the heart of the design and it’s rewarding to know that this extension will help ensure more veterans can access the services they need in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. Seeing work now underway is fantastic and we look forward to watching the project take shape.”