One of the UK’s biggest housebuilders has shown its support for homeless veterans in Dorset.

Barratt Homes volunteered its carpentry skills and also donated £1,500 to a charity which looks after ex-servicemen and women in the community.

Along with providing a financial boost to Helping Homeless Veterans UK, the builder sent in a group of its carpentry apprentices to assist with the charity’s latest build project.

The Poole-based Armed Forces charity is converting an empty building in Winton, Bournemouth, into six individual flats for homeless veterans.

Barratt – which is building new homes in Dorset – despatched an 11-strong team to the site to hang doors and help with other general tasks as requested.

David Wood, CEO, Helping Homeless Veterans UK Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our Veterans Build Project will provide temporary accommodation for veterans who find themselves homeless for whatever reason.

“Barratt’s generous donation, along with its volunteer support, means we are well on the way to finishing this important build.

“This will take away the use of council hostels as well hotels, which comes as a great expense to our charity.”

Anthony Dimmick, Barratt Homes Community Liaison Manager, said the company was pleased to be able to help such a worthwhile charity.

A former serviceman in the Falklands War, he said: “Helping Homeless Veterans UK is providing essential support for those who have served our country and who need somewhere to live.

“Barratt is a proud supporter of the Armed Forces and has attracted several veterans into the business through its Armed Forces Transition Programme.

“We want to help in any way we can.”

Helping Homeless Veterans UK started as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in September 2019.

Now a registered charity, it is run by a team of volunteers who dedicate their free time to helping homeless veterans and relies solely on donations.

Barratt Homes is building new homes across Dorset.

Committed to supporting local causes in the areas in which it is building, Barratt donates to a different organisation each month.

Its employees are entitled to two days per year to take as volunteering days with a local charity of their choosing.