Homeless veterans 'get lives back in the kitchen'

An army veteran has said says cookery session put on to teach life skills have given men "their life and independence back".

Those living in Imjin House in Gloucester, a facility for homeless veterans, are learning critical life skills in a joint partnership with two other charities in the city.

Roy Smith, a veteran and Imjin House resident, worked in logistics when he was in the army but had previously worked as a chef.

He said the session helps the men "in a lot of ways - more than people realise".

Wiggly, a Gloucester-based charity that provides inclusive cookery tuition has partnered with Alabare, a charity that helps people overcome the barriers of homelessness and mental health to put on the sessions.

Veterans get the chance to prepare healthy breakfast options using tinned items commonly found in their pantries.

Mr Smith said: "The cooking today - its important because there's some people who don't know how to cook.

"They get some of their life back, they get some of their independence back."

Mr Smith said many of the veterans had "struggled" to get a hot meal in the past.

"Without stuff like this people would be sat in their rooms doing nothing or not interacting with people," he added.

"It's really important for the guys because sometimes they don't have the interaction and they're out of their comfort zone."

Ian Harris, a retired British Army Colonel, said: "As an ex-military person, knowing the need for veterans to become independent through times of difficulty, this session been superb to witness."

Claire Foot, general manager of Wiggly charity, said many of the veterans were working on transitioning back to civilian life and are often "living on very low incomes and accessing food pantries".

"These sessions are designed to use the kind of food they can access and to build their skills so they can look after themselves in the future," she added.

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