Houses for Heroes

Appeal

In 2007 The Scottish Veterans' Garden City Association (SVGCA) undertook a major study to identify how we might reduce what we believed was an unacceptable waiting time for eligible and, in particular, high priority applicants before we were normally able to offer him or her a house.

In simple terms, in relation to our existing stock of 594 houses, our waiting list of, then, 417 was too large and our turnover, from what are lifetime tenancies, averaging only 31 per year over the previous six years, was too small.

We identified a particular shortage of smaller, single storey, or at least one floor houses suitable for the more seriously disabled who require wheelchair access and manoeuverability. We calculated that to effectively reduce this waiting time, we needed to build 60 new, mostly two bedroom, single storey, wheelchair friendly houses.

The cost, at today's prices, would amount to some £6 million. A huge sum to raise. We have, however, split the project into nine phases and will now take it as far and as quickly as we can, depending on our success in fund-raising.

We approached a large number of Charities in February and the formal launch took place in Edinburgh Castle at an event Hosted by the First Minister on 30th April.

By that time over £1.0M had been committed or promised by supporters. This great start means that we have been able to begin work on our 4 Motherwell houses, which will be occupied by Christmas and are well down the planning process for 10 new houses at Scone, near Perth, to begin in August and a further 4 at Penicuik, south of Edinburgh in 2009.

The Service Chiefs in Scotland Support the First Minister and Chairman of SVCGA at the launch of Houses for Heroes Appeal within Edinburgh Castle. Photo left to right Air Commodore C. A. Bairsto, Colonel R S B Watson, First Minister, Alex Salmond, Major General D McDowell, Commodore C B H Stevenson at Edinburgh Castle to launch the Houses for Heroes Website.