Larkhall man sets up charity to help homeless armed forces veterans this Christmas

Dec 29 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

MSP Christina McKelvie withdrew her support this week for a charity which helps homeless soldiers – after the Advertiser informed her the organiser had been a British National Party (BNP) candidate at the Westminister elections.

The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP originally supported the charity Soldiers Off The Streets, which was set up two months ago by Walter Hamilton to help homeless veterans in shelters.

But the SNP MSP backtracked after learning the Larkhall man had been a candidate for the BNP in Glasgow Central constituency in 2005 and was a ‘paper’ candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election in 2010.

Mr Hamilton insists he is no longer a member of the far-right wing party.

The charity help ex-soldiers who are sleeping rough in areas and provide them with food, sleeping bags, clothes and other essential items.

But a spokeswoman for Ms McKelvie said this week: “This is obviously not a youthful indiscretion.

“In the circumstances, Christina McKelvie, unfortunately, can’t endorse any organisation he is associated with regardless of how good a cause it might be.”

Before she knew that Mr Hamilton had been a member of the BNP, Christina McKelvie attended a launch of a campaign urging the public to support homeless soldiers this Christmas by donating food and items outside the council’s HQ in Almada Street, Hamilton.

Mr Hamilton insisted he had turned his back on the BNP about 18 months ago and is no longer a party member.

“I left the BNP as I didn’t like what was going on in the party,” he added.

“I don’t think my past should have anything to do with my charity work.

“The charity is non-political and should have nothing to do with my past.

“What happened in the past is in the past.”

The charity distribute food and goods to homeless armed forces veterans across the central belt.

And the launch of the charity outside the council headquarters was to encourage the public to give them donations to help homeless soldiers.

About 12 per cent of homeless people in the UK are armed forces veterans, many of them suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mr Hamilton, who set up the charity about two months ago, has family members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His daughter is currently serving in Iraq.

Mr Hamilton, who recently became a member of Larkhall Community Council, added: “It is vital to help homeless veterans especially at this time of the year.

“I have had about six calls from all over Scotland about ex-veterans who are in need of help.

“I have a small team and van at the moment and can’t cover the full country.

“We just want to help homeless veterans by giving them sleeping bags or trying to help them find accommodation.”

The group raised £1200 after holding a street collection for four hours outside the Regent Centre, Hamilton, earlier this month.