Former members of the armed forces are being sought to help those returning to everyday life

A charity is looking for former members of the armed forces to help veterans settle in their new homes.

Housing Options Scotland is a charity working with disabled people, older people and veterans to find the Right Home in the Right Place.

The organisation has worked with veterans since 2012 and last year had 266 new veteran clients (a 127.4% increase on the previous year).

It is now looking to recruit former servicemen and women to help veterans adapt to their new homes and communities.

Gina Wilson, REME veteran / Military Matters volunteer development worker at the charity, said: "A key priority for service leavers is to find accommodation, however the combination of unfamiliar housing policies, applications and the potential for delays can make the process stressful. We want to make the housing transition as positive as we can and having support from a veteran volunteer who can relate to the client is invaluable. There are practical tasks that the volunteers can help with- briefing and attending meetings for example, or relaying information from the housing brokers- but regular communication with the clients and encouragement is equally important.  

"We recognise that housing is only part of the process of reintegration from the armed forces and so we like our volunteers to continue in a supportive role for the client beyond the housing journey. Volunteers can help to settle clients into their new area by researching local opportunities for veterans or sign-posting other useful services, however often simply keeping in touch is all that is needed to make a difference."

It is essential that volunteers applying for these roles have a military background. If you are interested in getting involved, or just having a chat about Military Matters, get in touch with Gina Wilson at : gina@housingoptionsscotland.org,uk