A letter from Veterans Aid CEO, Hugh Milroy
Dear Master,
I am writing to you as the CEO of Veterans Aid to update you on how the Founders donation was used. This isn’t a formal report. It’s a message of heartfelt thanks and a glimpse into the very real impact your generosity has already made. On receiving the funds, I chose to allocate the donation directly to the frontline of our work where we act quickly to prevent veterans from ending up on the streets. This often means securing emergency accommodation in hotels and B&Bs across the country, providing immediate safety and stability when it’s needed most.
Since the Company so kindly supported Veterans Aid last October, we’ve been able to help 61 veterans into safe, secure emergency accommodation. That’s a financial cost to us of £22,209.34, but to those 61 individuals, it meant something far more powerful: a door that opened when the world seemed to have shut them out.
For some, it was the first time in months they felt safe. For others, it was the beginning of hope, of recovery, of being seen and heard again. These aren’t just statistics—they are moments that changed the trajectory of people’s lives.
Every day at Veterans Aid is different. But what remains constant is the root cause of so much of the suffering we see: poverty. It underpins homelessness, addiction, relationship breakdowns, poor mental health. And more than 60% of those who come to us are caught in its grip. Some cases are complex and long-standing. Others need one simple act of intervention: a rent deposit to prevent eviction. A travel fare to reunite a family. A night in a warm bed instead of the street.
That’s why your support matters so deeply. Because it gives us what we so often need most—the ability to act, immediately. Without waiting. Without bureaucracy. Without turning someone away because the funds “aren’t allocated.” Whether it’s a hot meal, a week in detox, or trauma counselling—we can say yes. And saying yes, at the right moment, changes everything.
One recent day, three women veterans came to us, all struggling with addiction. Rehab is long and costly, often requiring more than one attempt. But we are with them for the long haul, just as we are for the 93-year-old veteran who needed our help last month—and the 17-year-old who came through the door a week later. Veterans Aid doesn’t offer “off-the-shelf” solutions. We meet people where they are, and we walk with them as far as they need us to go.
I’ve attached a few reports that will give you a broader overview of our work—nearly 4,000 interactions last year alone. But I hope this message gives you a feel for the heart of what you’ve helped us do. The Company hasn’t just made a donation. They’ve given someone back their future. Their pride. Their peace of mind.
From all of us at Veterans Aid, and especially from those veterans whose lives you’ve already touched—thank you.
2024 Impact Report records year's achievements - Veterans Aid
VETERANS AID'S ACHIEVEMENTS VALIDATED BY INDEPENDENT REPORT
Aye,
Hugh
Prof Hugh Milroy OBE PhD
CEO Veterans Aid