Veteran who was homeless sets up support group

A former military veteran from Bridgwater who spent time in homeless accommodation has set up an online support group for other ex-soldiers after he managed to turn his own life around.

Chris Brandes, who was in the Royal Logistics Corp, was made homeless in 2023 following the breakdown of a relationship and he ended up staying in sheltered accommodation in Taunton.

While there he became sober, had therapy and began volunteering. He said he then began to take on evening classes to "better" himself.

He has since set up an online support group for the veteran community, known as UKVeteran75/Support, which brings former soldiers together.

Brandes said leaving the armed forces was often "very hard".

He said: "It's a completely different life.

"[Veterans] go through things that other people wouldn't understand and mental health can be affected really badly.

"Finding myself from that position, from going to the streets to having a place with a roof over my head, it made me want to change... I really wanted to change myself."

Once settled into accommodation with Taunton-based homeless charity Arc, Brandes volunteered at a charity shop six days a week "just to get out there".

He said he "pushed himself" to earn 13 qualifications.

Brandes was offered a flat in Chard in 2024. He had never been there before but said he was keen for a "fresh start".

He said setting up his veterans' community was something that he had always wanted to do.

"Within a month it went from a chat group on Facebook to a veterans' breakfast club which now, two years and one month later, is still running," he said.

"It gave a space for other veterans to meet up and have breakfast and that camaraderie is there.

"I've got a lovely group that come down and the oldest gentleman veteran I've got there is 90."

Brandes said it was important to be able to discuss mental health issues with people who had been through the same experiences.

"It means a lot to me," he said.

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