Gulf War veterans fear for the future as Wolverhampton home is forced to shut down

The Stonham Veterans Service (SVS) at Roland Elcock House, East Park, is set to close its doors after bosses said funding for the project had run out.

It means that 12 ex-servicemen, some of whom served in the Gulf War and have mental health issues and physical problems, have been left with no access to vital support services.

Six of the veterans from the Barnfield Road site are yet to find a new place to live. Councillor Anwen Muston, who represents East Park, said none of the ex-servicemen had been able to access alternative support to help their transition into 'normal life'.

Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden has described the closure as 'an absolute tragedy'. "I am now very worried about what will happen to the veterans who have been living at the facility," he said.

The site, which is named after Wolverhampton-born Victoria Cross recipient Major Roland Elcock, opened in September 2014 following a £1.26 million development and features 14 flats for ex-service personnel.

It was funded by a grant of £261,891 from the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), but bosses say as the cash has run dry it is 'time for residents to move on'.

Shaun Klapec, aged 52, was a soldier for five years and served with the Staffordshire Regiment in Northern Ireland in the 1980s.

He said he has struggled to come to terms with life outside the Army and has suffered with depression, having battled homelessness and financial problems.

"I am up against the clock now trying to get a council place before the deadline," said Mr Klapec, who like the other ex-servicemen has been told he must be out of his flat by September 19.

"I struggled to adjust and for a while the service gave me hope. There was camaraderie there, knowing there were other people around that knew what you were going through.

"It is a worrying time. It feels like we have been abandoned."

Another resident, John Gough, says adjusting to civilian life since leaving the army in 2002 has been a constant battle. He has ongoing issues with drug abuse and has spent a spell in prison.

"There are things you can talk about with them that you just can't with other people, they can't relate to it.

"People who haven't experienced it think you should just buck up your ideas and get on with it, but it's not that easy.

"Who knows where we'll end up.

"It's a bit of a shoddy way to treat people who've served their country."

Royal British Legion volunteer Julia Brown, who supports veterans from SVS, said: "This has caused unnecessary suffering to a lot of people.

"Some of them have severe alcohol and drug problems and mental health issues. They are simply not ready to cope on their own.

"We have already lost touch with some of the residents who have moved on. Some went into hostels…who knows where they are.

"The big concern is that they have become homeless."

Councillor Muston, an ex-Staffordshire Regiment sergeant who served in Iraq during 23 years in the British Army, said: "This was a purpose built facility for veterans that they are closing down after less than two years.

"It just makes no sense. Most of these guys need counselling on a daily basis and there is no chance of them getting that now.

"There is nowhere in Wolverhampton that provides the level of support required, which means the veterans will be left to suffer.

"We are trying everything at the moment to make sure they have somewhere to live, but the situation is pretty dire.

"Without proper support there is little chance of them being able to move on with their lives."

Clare Lees, head of client services at Home Group, which runs the SVS, said: "As a not-for-profit charity we rely on funding to run our services. Funding for our veterans' transition service came to an end in March.

"Since then we've continued to run the service but we can't operate at a loss indefinitely and it's now time for residents to move on to accommodation which better suits their needs.

"Some residents have made great progress and are ready to move onto independent accommodation.

"We're working with those clients who still need support to ensure they find an appropriate service. We never close down a service without people having alternative accommodation."