Avondale House, is owned by the Byker Community Trust and includes 34 one-bedroom flats, a 3-bedroom house and communal facilities.

Avondale House is run by the charity Armed Forces’ & Veterans’ Launchpad (AFVL) and provides a safe environment in which residents can make a responsible transition from military to civilian life and addresses the issues that can sometimes lead to homelessness and unemployment.

Residents can live in Avondale House for up to two years, and are given assistance by Launchpad to the services of interlinked organisations that help improve their health, well being, literacy, employability and financial management skills. It gives them the opportunity to live independently whilst receiving support to find jobs, housing and gain new skills. After two years, they are expected to have established alternative accommodation elsewhere to match their employment and personal circumstances.

The BCT, with some assistance from the Armed Forces Community Covenant, invested £1 million to refurbish the Grade II* listed building, which plays an integral role at the centre of the iconic Byker Estate.

The BCT developed a partnership with AFVL to bring an underused building back into full use and to help change the lives and rehabilitate veterans into civilian life. AFVL , encourage community interaction through events and activities and develop effective partnerships with local support agencies primarily aimed at getting the veterans employment and permanent housing.

Since the completion of refurbishment works in June 2013, the achievements of AFVL and the BCT’s innovative project have been very successful where individuals who otherwise might have become homeless have been housed at Avondale House and residents have subsequently gained employment.