High Peak CVS intends to catch up with one of our groups in a regular, new series called ‘Spotlight on…’ We hope to discover more about the outstanding voluntary work that’s happening across Derbyshire’s High Peak.
This month, we’re talking to Building Bridges CIC, which supports veterans who may be facing homelessness and suffering with drug and/or alcohol addiction issues…
1: What does your group do?
We are a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) supported accommodation provider based in Buxton, Derbyshire. We support veterans who may be facing homelessness and suffering with drug and/or alcohol addiction issues, we operate and maintain a sober house. Our eligibility criteria is male veterans, in housing need, willing to engage in our ‘CAREDFOR’ program and abstinent from illicit drugs and alcohol use at point of entry. As we grow and develop this may change, but we felt that this was the area we have the most knowledge and experience around.
Our CAREDFOR programme which we have written through my own experiences of poor accommodation providers. I feel that we have every angle covered for our residents and through writing them an individual support plan and working on that, we give our clients the best possible chance to succeed and transition from surviving to thriving.
At the heart of this CAREDFOR programme is: counselling; assessing individuals; rebuilding relationships; education; discipline; friendships; opportunity; and re-integration.
- What are your hopes for the future?
We opened our doors on April 27, 2026, and we have had our first resident move in on May 23, 2026. We are hoping to hit our capacity of five residents (currently we have three) by mid- August. Unfortunately, as we have learned people only need your service when they really need your service… so the referrals can go from four a week to none and with us being a sober accommodation it is not always the right time for everyone. We are looking to build the foundations of our CIC this year and look to expand in 2027 organically to support more veterans who may require our services.
- How has High Peak CVS assisted your group?
High Peak CVS has helped us in so many ways… From Ross holding a meeting for us where we met one of our biggest supporters who is still involved to this day, to Clare who has helped us to write bids for funding applications and locating new funding options which may be applicable for us. High Peak CVS has also been fantastic at helping to promote Building Bridges CIC locally.
- How can anyone who’d like to get involved with your group do so?
Anyone wishing to get involved can email us – joseph@buildingbridgescic.co.uk or james@buildingbridgescic.co.uk – we are still finding our feet and we have already had some incredible offers of support. The more the merrier for us.
For more information: www.buildingbridgescic.co.uk
We are also doing a family day on Remembrance Sunday at Buxworth War Memorial Club on Sunday, November 8, 2026, which people are more than welcome to attend. We have Kemps Butchers doing a BBQ as well as local musicians and entertainment for children. We have a raffle and an auction in order to help us raise some money towards our services.
