EN:Procure was delighted to join Help 4 Homeless Veterans (H4HV) to celebrate the completion of the refurbishment of Wood House in Rotherham alongside frameworks contractors who volunteered their time, services, works and materials at no cost or nominal rates.
The house will offer a safe base for up to four veterans at any one time, providing emergency accommodation and a range of practical support to help them move into secure longer-term housing. Help 4 Homeless Veterans have assisted over 1,100 ex-service personnel with emergency support since the charity was founded by ex-serviceman Tom Wood in 2010. This is the first property the charity has purchased thanks to generous support from the public and former mayors of Barnsley and Rotherham who chose H4HV as one of their chosen charities for their year in office.
Richard Greenwood, Director of Operations for New Build, spearheaded EN:Procure’s response after H4HV approached EN for help in June 2025, assisting with the search for a suitable property and project managing the refurbishment to ensure the house was compliant with all requirements as a HMO. The property identified was previously occupied as a family home and has a blue plaque in recognition of its history of support for the military, housing Polish veterans of the Second World War.
Contractors and consultants included Devcom, who drew floorplans, The Testing Lab, who provided the asbestos survey, Bailey Partnership, who did the fire risk assessment, EWIS, who did the loft insulation and hatches, EQUANS UK & Ireland, who did the electrical re-wiring, BAAS Construction, who did the roof repairs, RE:GEN, who provided floor coverings and decorating, DJB Installations who did uPVC window repairs, David Cussons Windows, who replaced the front door, Lovell Partnerships and Greens Decorating who provided decorating services, and Termrim Construction, who replaced the fire doors and safety handrails. The total value of works and materials provided free of charge or at nominal cost to the charity is estimated to be £30,000.
Steve Bentham-Bates, CEO of Help 4 Homeless Veterans, said: “The charity is incredibly grateful for all the generous support we’ve received from the public and businesses. Without this help we wouldn’t have been able to purchase and refurbish Wood House. Completing this property is a milestone achievement for us which has been a longstanding ambition. Owning and operating our own accommodation will provide veterans who come to us for help with faster, easier access to a safe space and stepping stone to help get them back on track.”
Richard Greenwood, Director of Operations, EN:Procure, said: “When Help 4 Homeless Veterans approached us and told us about their Buy a Brick Campaign, we knew we could help them establish the house they needed to provide immediate practical support. Their service is vital to keep veterans safe in their time of urgent need. It’s been our pleasure to manage the refurbishment of Wood House with the fantastic team of contractors and consultants in our supply chain who’ve helped to transform the house. Their speed of response and willingness to help has been outstanding. Thanks to all of them for their professionalism and well done to everyone involved.”
Dave Thomas, Managing Director, The Testing Lab, said: “When I received the email asking for help, I got straight on the phone to find out more. My father was in the parachute regiment and I trained my nephew so he could follow in his grandad’s footsteps – so having the chance to help H4HV wasn’t even a thought, it was a ‘when do you get the keys?’ The real thanks go to Tom Wood who started the charity many years ago and Steve Bentham-Bates and the trustees who’ve given their all for over a decade. The level of respect they have for each other is unreal. They’re truly making a difference, and if we had more people like this, the world would be a better place.”
Jordan Hammond, Operations Manager at Equans, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to support this important initiative by giving a helping hand to bring the building up to modern standards. At Equans we are proud to support the communities surrounding the work we do and Wood House is a very worthy project which we’re sure will be a lifeline for veterans in Rotherham for years to come.”
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