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Resident's Blog: Jo’s journey to and with SVR

‘I have been treated so well by SVR. I will never be able to articulate how grateful I am for SVR essentially saving my world’

Easter 2023: Jo was spending time with family in the Midlands. He wasn’t on holiday. His marriage was falling apart, and he needed some respite from the noise. He spent evenings alone in his aunt’s spare room, educating himself on an AI Platform. 

Summer 2023: Joseph moved back to Glasgow to try one last time with his wife to mend their marriage, but in July they both decided it wasn’t going to work. 

Jo found himself homeless. Sitting on a bench in Glasgow Green he called a good friend, a service Officer in the Army. DG , who recommended he contact SSAFA. 

That same day he travelled across the city to Govan. One of the peer support workers at Glasgow’s Helping Heroes in Glasgow suggests that Jo goes to Allen Clarke’s Veterans Hub (ACVC Hub) less than a mile up the road. He does and although they share a lot of the same values and aims it will be more than six months before they start to work together. 

Jo had never viewed himself as a ‘Veteran’ and, in his own words, felt like a fraud. He felt uncomfortable and even more embarrassed about being mentioned in the same sentence as a ‘Hero’.

He explains: “I have many friends and family who have done tours in pretty hostile environments, who have experienced and witnessed some pretty horrific shit. For me a Veteran is someone who has been in theatre. I’m so grateful that’s never been me.

“I started my military journey in the 1980s with the Reserves and pretty much for most of the time have hand-picked and chose to do all the cool and sexy stuff. I’ve never fired a round in anger and never been shot at. And hopefully never will. A hero for me is some of the amazing men and women who currently work in high consequence environments but not necessarily in war. In Civvy Street like our blue light brigade in A&E who work ridiculous hours for insufficient pay. That’s also not me.”

After two months of sofa surfing, spending the odd night in the spare room of the marital home but mainly spending time at David Lloyds West End and living out the boot of his car, Alan, the DWP Veteran’s Champion gave Jo the number for Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR). The first person he spoke to was Kirsty, Residence Manager at Whitefoord House in Edinburgh. She asked Jo a couple of routine questions but within a few minutes told Jo that he was one of the reasons that SVR exists. Jo was in tears and still feels emotional when he thinks of that moment. SVR offered Jo accommodation the following day. Later that week he moved into Whitefoord House. Friday 13th September 2023.

• During Jo’s time, he enjoyed joining other Veterans on a residential trip to Deeside, and went skiing at Glenshee.

He reflects: “I have been treated so well by SVR. I will never be able to articulate how grateful I am for SVR essentially saving my world. There are a couple of special mentions that I must make. Kirsty was my first contact with SVR and her kind words and re-assurance brought me to tears. My first Keyworker Izabella who made me feel like I really mattered. She made me feel like I had been adopted by a family and appointed a big sister (albeit she is tiny but tenacious). When I first visited Bellrock Close six months later, I met Suzanne, the assistant Residence Manger whose kind words also made me hopeful and once again when I got back to my trusty Volvo brought me to tears. Another special mention for Ken (Residence Manager, Bellrock) and Colin (Head of External relations) two gentlemen who have always treated me with respect, dignity and probably have done much more than they needed to in order to support any of my endeavours.”

It was the last week in January 2024 before Jo would be able to move back to Glasgow. The apartment that SVR offered Jo in Bellrock Close was No 13. It was the same Apartment that Allen Clarke had occupied seven years earlier.

We asked Jo what the connection and attraction was for ACVC HUB. This is what Jo says:

“I believe that self-expression is key, connection is key, feeling valued is key. The moment I first walked into the Hub I could feel the vibe. I knew I’d be back. In some of my darkest moments in Edinburgh as I fell apart and then tried to piece my life back together. I knew I needed to get back to Glasgow, I knew I needed to serve again, and I knew I could do that and feel valued at the Hub and also at SVR. And it’s not just Allen it’s everyone. Allen’s mantra is very straightforward. WORK TOGETHER or f*** off! That’s very much me.”

Van Gogh created something like 470 paintings in his lifetime. Jo published over a thousand paintings online in around eight months and now wants to share his love of words, Ai Art and his journey to help and support anyone that feels they need help and support. You can find out more about Jo and the organisations he works with on his website: https://jo3m.com/home-1