A CONWY resident will be sleeping outside as part of a campaign to raise crucial funds for homeless veterans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 22, veteran Charlie Cordell is taking part in Royal British Legion Industries’ (RBLI) “Great Tommy Sleep Out”, which will see participants brave the cold for a night this month in aid of the roughly 6,000 military veterans living on the streets in the UK.

Charlie, a recently retired British Army veteran, will be accompanied by a second Army veteran, and will also be fundraising on Llandudno’s Mostyn Street (outside the old M&S store) and on the promenade between 2-6pm on March 22.

He joins more than 11,500 people who have already signed up to the challenge, with every penny raised by the campaign going directly to RBLI’s wide range of services providing a home, welfare and employment support to military veterans.

Charlie said: “I am a veteran who is lucky enough to have come home.

“But there are over 6,000 other veterans who are still struggling to find home, who are sleeping rough on our streets every night.”

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RBLI, which is a separate charity to the Royal British Legion, gives a home to more than 300 veterans and their families through its Kent village, including homeless veterans through its emergency accommodation, Mountbatten Pavilion.

At the heart of the village is the charity’s social enterprise factory, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC), which provides employment opportunities to veterans and people with disabilities.

Throughout the pandemic, the team at BBMC have been helping to keep the country running producing signs for major infrastructure projects, pallets for the transportation of food, ventilators and hand sanitizers for the telecoms industry.

The team have also been fulfilling the thousands of fundraising packs which includes a beanie hate and booklet printed professionally in-house.

All veterans living on the village are provided with a tailored welfare support programme to help them regain their independence and overcome challenges caused by physical or mental disability, drug or alcohol dependency, and unemployment.

To support Charlie as he takes part in RBLI’s Great Tommy Sleep Out, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charles-cordell.