HOMELESS veterans are to be offered short-term accommodation at a Royal British Legion site in Bournemouth.

The charity Helping Homeless Veterans UK has been granted permission to use the first floor of the Winton and Moordown Royal British Legion building for up to six single-bed flatlets – converting former offices, a store, and committee rooms.

The occupiers would have the use of a communal kitchen and living room with access to the flatlets via an external staircase to the rear of the building while an internal staircase to the front of the club would be removed.

Supporting documents claim that the studio accommodation will help reduce the amount of rough sleeping in the area with help and support offered to those who need a roof over their heads and would like to maintain some independence.

The charity was founded in 2019 by resident David Wood who has helped over 280 veterans over a five year period.  He was winner of the unsung heroes prize in the Dorset Hero Awards earlier this year. He previously received an award from the High Sheriff of Dorset in 2018 and the Bournemouth Echo volunteer of the year accolade in 2017.

Helping Homeless Veterans said it has helped nine veterans in the past 14 months who were either street homeless of sofa surfing locally.

A statement from the charity to BCP Council in support of its application said: “We are not providing supported accommodation and there will be assessments carried out by ourselves before a veteran moves in to our property and if they are not suitable then they will be signposted to agencies who can assist. We have already helped and assisted 91 veterans into their own accommodation and 100 per cent of all funds raised or donated go directly towards us housing our homeless veterans.”

A representative from the charity is to visit the centre at least twice a week to offer support.

“We also know that there are many veterans in the BCP area who are classed as sofa surfing or living in temporary accommodation and what we are proposing with the RBL conversion is to take them out of that situation and place them in our flatlets so that we can engage with them to deal with any issues they may have using our network of professional charities and organisations,” said the charity.

“We can also prepare them for moving into their own private rented accommodation which we can assist with by offering financial support as well as furniture and fittings. We also have a network of companies that work closely with ourselves who can provide employment for veterans and we can provide assistance with training courses if required to help integrate the veterans back into society.

The club has flats on either side in Wimborne Road and detached homes to the rear in Midland Road – none of which objected to the proposal.