Veterans’ Minister visits Centenary Lodge

In October, we were delighted to welcome Minister for Veterans and People Al Carns and MP for Aldershot Alex Baker to Centenary Lodge, our award-winning housing development in the heart of the veteran community in Aldershot. The visit from MPs comes in the wake of the Government’s welcome promise to house heroes.

The development, which won the Best Affordable Housing Development award at the Inside Housing Development Award, was opened by our Patron the Duchess of Edinburgh in 2018, and has provided 34 affordable, secure homes to veterans in need ever since.

I felt honoured that Al Carns had a chance to visit Centenary Lodge and speak with our veterans – it’s the residents that make the scheme, looking after the building, supporting each other, and attending & running social events.

Anne Walker, Aldershot Scheme Coordinator

The Minister’s visit included a tour of the house and gardens, a trip to the allotment which is looked after by the residents, and a peek into the nature reserve next door which is a a favourite spot of many Centenary Lodge residents. Over lunch, Al and Alex met several of the veterans living in the scheme to learn more about their experiences and the support Stoll has offered them over the years. One resident, Derek, was visited by Al in his flat, and spoke eloquently about the sense of safety a home at Stoll has provided him, and the lifeline the charity provides for veterans facing homelessness.

We would like to thank Al and Alex for taking the time to visit and see our vital work in action, as well as our residents at Centenary Lodge for being so welcoming.