A HUSBAND and wife team who run a charity which helps rehouse homeless veterans have been presented an award by injured Falklands veteran Simon Weston.
Tom and Jean Wood picked up the Community Champion award at the Amplifon Awards in a ceremony at the Army and Navy Club in London on Tuesday.
The couple were saddened by a news report about a young homeless veteran who had been attacked in a doorway when ex-serviceman Tom and Jean decided they wanted to make a difference.
They set up the charity Help 4 Homeless Veterans to give veterans safe, warm homes to live in. The pair have transformed properties across the country and helped 300 veterans get back on their feet in the last seven years - including many in Barnsley.
The Worsbrough Bridge-based charity, which also helps servicemen get back to work, has support from a former NHS clinical psychologist who offers free help to those with mental health problems.
“We are both over the moon,” said Tom, 57, of Grange Road, Royston. “It shows the charity is doing its work effectively and it is great to get this recognition for the charity.”
Les Binns, from Manvers, was also shortlisted in the Outstanding Military Bravery category at the awards.
He served for more than 13 years with The Light Dragoons and received a commendation for his actions in Afghanistan. While out on patrol in 2009, Les was nearby when an Afghan soldier stood on an IED, killing three of his comrades instantly.
Despite sustaining significant shrapnel injuries to his arm, legs and face, resulting in him permanently losing the sight in his left eye, Les tended to fellow casualties and removed them from danger.
His courage was displayed again last year when he an attempted to reach the summit on Mount Everest. Less than 500m from the summit he abandoned his climb to help save another climber who was sliding out of control towards almost certain death.
