Former homeless veteran in Bridgwater turned his life around

Chris Brandes, 52, became homeless in Bridgwater, in 2023 after a “bad relationship”. He went to the Royal British Legion hub, where staff told him to contact Arc.

After sleeping rough for two weeks, former Royal Logistics Corps soldier Chris was offered sheltered accommodation.

Arc offered Chris a room at Victory House, one of its satellite properties in Taunton.

Victory House is temporary accommodation for homeless veterans and can house up to eight people.

Brandes previously told the County Gazette he had struggled with his mental health since leaving the Army in 2003 and had been diagnosed with complex PTSD and ADHD.

He said: “I went through therapy while I was at Victory House, through Help for Heroes' service Hidden Wounds, and got back onto my regular anti-depressant medication and counselling.

“I went to a local charity shop, St Margaret's Hospice on East Reach, and started doing voluntary work. Getting out of the house kept me going, and I'd work seven days a week. Sometimes I felt like I was worth something, and it was nice meeting new people.

“I just wanted to make something of myself and felt like it was my chance.”

Chris “engaged well” with Victory House support staff and stayed there for just under a year.

He soon gained the confidence to work towards the qualifications he believed would “better his life”.

Within six months, Chris had completed 10 YMCA courses designed to prepare people for life as housing tenants.

After bidding for a home every week, Chris was offered his own flat in Chard in June 2024.

Chris when he first joined as a soldier in the British Army.

Chris soon started a Facebook chat and support group for veterans in Chard and surrounding parts of South Somerset.

He said the group grew into an armed forces breakfast club in Chard, which is still running.

He said: “Two years down the line, I have completely turned my life around and now I am trying to help as many veterans across the country as I can.

“From being homeless and going through supported accommodation to over two years later, I am still not giving up.

“I want a better life and a better life for others.”

Chris said the journey had been difficult, but he found support at Ark at Edgwood in Merriott, Somerset.

He said: “Over the last couple of years, it has not been easy, and I will admit I have had struggles.

“I did go to Ark at Edgwood where they gave amazing support, and on Wednesdays, they have armed forces veterans attend.

“The staff there were such a great help and very supportive.”

At Ark, he completed a peer-support champion course, which he now uses to help struggling veterans.

He said: “Being a veteran myself and having been through hard times, I wanted to help veterans, so I decided on my own to start UKVeteran75/Support.”

Chris started a new community movement to support veterans across the UK.

UKVeteran75/Support helps veterans and their families with housing, homelessness, local groups, events and activities.

The veteran-only group is available on WhatsApp and social media, offering a “safe space to chat”.

Chris also set up UKVeteran75/Community for veterans, their families and anyone who supports the armed forces.

Chris said: “It gives families the chance to join in and also be a part of a growing community.”

Chris spends hours running the groups every day, entirely voluntarily. He says he is not a charity or official organisation but simply “someone who cares and wants to help others.”

Seven other veterans from across the country have joined Chris to support people through the chats.

Chris said: “I’ve had ups and downs, but I am good. This is more than anything what has kept me going, and I have also been in contact with a military charity which has helped me get up to date and, in the future, I am looking into going back into full-time work, working with veterans. This is helping me massively.

“Doing what I have done has given me a purpose.”

Chris said the movement had also helped him cope with PTSD and ADHD.

He added: “I fought through.

“I went from where nobody wants to be to helping other veterans across the UK. This is what keeps me going.

“I wouldn’t give this up for the world.

“If you have a purpose, everything else around you doesn’t matter.”

Chris has applied for his community to join the Armed Forces Covenant and is waiting for a decision.

Chard Veterans Breakfast Club meets on the first Saturday of every month at Chard Conservative Club from 10am.

UKVeteran75/Support and UKVeteran75/Community are on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.