Healthier Heroes

Northern Life talks to Healthier Heroes founders Andrew and Rio Powell about the charity’s aims, what inspires their work and the future of the charity…

On an unassuming Burnley side street, identified by a Union Jack flag with the charity’s logo over the top, Bancroft House has been transformed from an old technical school into supported housing for exforces. Acquired by Healthier Heroes in October 2020 and fully renovated by December that year, the building now hosts 21 veterans, supported by nine staff and three volunteers.

How Healthier Heroes Began

“Healthier Heroes started in 2018, but it was just a drop-in centre in Wigan,” Rio explains. “Andy served in the army for 16 years so he could understand veterans and communicate with them. Veterans that were street homeless would come into the centre to get a brew and a bacon buttie but they were either drunk or on drugs, and then they’d go back on the street. It did have externally built houses but it was quite chaotic. We weren’t stopping any cycles or changing any lives. Some of them were being housed and some of them couldn’t be, some were just trashing the houses and there were no interventions with drug and alcohol, no routine, no structure. There was a gap for specific veteran needs.”

Andrew wanted to combat this lack of intervention and offer veterans more supported accommodation. When Andrew shared his idea with Rio, she quit her teaching job and focused on Andy’s vision.

WE HAD OUR FIRST PERSON COME IN THE NIGHT BEFORE OPENING. WITHIN TWO WEEKS WE WERE FULL, AND HAVE BEEN EVER SINCE

Healthier Heroes in Burnley

“We opened Bancroft House on the 7th October. We had our first person come in the night before opening. Me and Andy had slept here, eating pizzas on the floor trying to get ready for the big opening! Within two weeks we were full, and have been ever since.”

The charity provides intense support for veterans, assigning them a support plan and a case worker.

“We basically support every aspect of their needs, things like dentists, doctors, Universal Credit, housing benefits, they live here until they can get back into employment where they can live externally but safely. We enlist them with Inspire drug and alcohol services, we sort their meds out, basically sort their lives out for them. They have a go-to person to come back to here if they need it.” Rio explains. “It usually takes two years, then we feel we should have done our job, but it’s a person-by-person basis. They can stay as long as they need to. On top of the 1-1 support, there’s an activity programme that runs five days and extreme sports.” Rio smiles.

Why Support is Needed

Though Andy emphasises that many veterans will leave the armed services and live very successful lives, others struggle with the transition into civilian life. “When you’re in the services everything is done for you, the finances are all dealt and there tends to be a heavy drinking culture so when people leave they’re not used to dealing with all that themselves, you drop out of that blanket of safety and you need a reintegration process. Inevitably, when you leave the army it’s difficult to live together with partners and family having been away for lengths of time and the arguments start and the drinking starts – relationships break down. It’s that catalogue of things that people find difficult to deal with.”

WE SUPPORT OVER 100 FAMILIES, AND IF WE WEREN’T THERE, THOSE 100 FAMILIES WOULD BE IN CRISIS OR WORSE

With relationship breakdowns a common issue for the people Healthier Heroes help, Rio and Andrew are keen to help support relationships.

“We facilitate all child arrangements,” Rio explains. “And we support over 100 families, and if we weren’t there, those 100 families would be in crisis or worse. They are just as important to us as those who live here. We have community outreach workers that go out and work with them, visit them at home, or try and get them to come here and get involved in the activities. We’re very person centred. Support workers are there to help guide, support and mentor them whatever they need.”

Success Stories

There have been numerous success stories in the two years since Bancroft House opened. Residents have become volunteers at the charity before going into successful careers and reestablishing relationships with family.

“We’ve both been through our own journeys with mental health, drugs and alcohol,” Andrew explains, “That’s a really important factor for the guys here. It always comes from a space of we understand it, they don’t ever feel belittled or that they can’t share because we get it. It makes it easier for them to have those conversations and understand what needs to be done next. Everybody here gets it.”

Healthier Heroes has won multiple awards with Andrew taking home Health Hero and the Armed Forces Hero at the October Best of Lancashire awards. The awards are well deserved with the work the charity does to home, rehabilitate and reconnect veterans and their families.

If you’d like to find out more about Healthier Heroes visit: healthierheroescic.co.uk

NorthernLife Jan/Feb 2023