Staffordshire veterans charity struggling to cope with demand

Russell Aston's mother Glenice officially opened the home in Rugeley a year ago

A charity offering veterans who are homeless a place to live is struggling to meet demand, its founder has said.

Help a Squaddie was formed in 2015 and bought a four-bedroom house in Rugeley, Staffordshire, last year.

However, founder Kerry Urquhart said staff could "fill the house 10 times over".

She told BBC Radio WM the charity was having to put veterans up in hotels as it could not cope with the level of demand.

"We'd need another five or six houses and we're only a small charity. We can't do that, we haven't got the funding," she said.

Help a Squaddie recently celebrated one year since it bought its sole home - the Russell Aston Home for Veterans.

The purchase was thanks to £300,000 from the National Lottery.

It was named after Cpl Russell Aston, from Newhall, who was among six people shot dead in southern Iraq in June 2003 while he was serving with the Royal Military Police.

The RMP [Royal Military Police] Bikers group have raised funds for the Help a Squaddie charity

His sister is the charity's lead caseworker and the house was officially opened by his mother Glenice Aston

Ms Urquhart said: "The house is a home. It's not a block, it's not a hostel - it's a home.

"We're just one big family. Even when they leave, they are still part of that family.

"That's what they miss. When they leave the forces, their family is gone and we try and bring that back."

She said there was "nothing like it in the UK".

Help a Squaddie also runs a veterans food bank as well as a suicide prevention helpline.

It currently focuses on helping people in the Staffordshire and south Derbyshire areas.

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