Yorkshire housing developer scheme to help Armed Forces onto housing ladder - with VE Day anniversary launch

The Armed Forces Deposit Contribution Scheme is available to all UK Armed Forces personnel who are currently employed by the Army, Navy or RAF, or who have left in the past 12 months.

It offers a 5% deposit contribution towards any new Barratt Homes or David Wilson home.

The scheme will become available to all eligible customers from Friday May 8 – VE Day.

The introduction of the new scheme acts as a thank you to all those serving in the Armed Forces, as the world looks back during one time of crisis to another and remembers VE Day.

Barratt has attracted more than 70 veterans into its business through its Armed Forces Transition Programme over the last 18 months, accounting for 90% of all trainees recruited in that period.

It also has a long-standing partnership with Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), supporting the charity in confronting the challenges of veteran homelessness.

The partnership delivers new homes, mental health support and jobs for ex Armed Forces personnel.

Daniel Smith, Managing Director Barratt Developments Yorkshire East, said: “We have chosen to mark VE Day with a special thank you to all those serving in the Armed Forces.

"As a proud Armed Forces employer and long-standing supporter of the RBLI, we take our commitment to the Armed Forces very seriously, and we look forward to helping even more through this new scheme.”

Though the majority of events surrounding the VE Day celebrations have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Royal British Legion is encouraging people to take part in celebrations safely from home, and has also called for people across the UK to join in a two-minute silence at 11am on May 8 as a moment of reflection and remembrance.

Barratt decided at the end of March to close all construction sites as a result of the pandemic but will now begin a carefully managed reopening of its sites from May 11.