Former Eastenders actor Ross Kemp has thrown his support behind a Sunderland charity by recording a video urging people to donate to find them a forever home.
Veterans in Crisis, which help army veterans, have until April 22 to raise £15,000 of the £125,000 target to enable them to buy the building their currently renting in Roker Avenue.
They need to raise the money in order to secure support from the Aviva Community Fund which tops up projects that attract £15,000 before the end of April.
And to help them secure their target, TV hardman Ross Kemp has recorded a video urging people to help the charity continue to support veterans.
In the footage Ross said: "I'm in a fantastic building which houses Veterans in Crisis in Sunderland.
"This building is being used 24-7 and offers help to veterans who desperately need it.
"If they don't raise £125,000 they will lose this building so if you can please go to the Just Giving website and donate all you can."
Ross was previously impressed by its “fantastic” facilities during a visit in December while backing Labour candidate Julie Elliott in her successful campaign to be re-elected Sunderland Central’s MP.
The charity provides a wide range of services including emergency accommodation, mental health training and social clubs.
If they manage to buy the building the charity hopes it will serve as its base, a drop-in, therapy centre, podcasting studio and emergency accommodation for veterans in need.
It's called the ERV, after Emergency Rendezvous – the safe space that troops on patrol designate in case anything goes wrong.
Ger Fowler, 49, founder of the charity said: "Without this place, these people have nowhere to go. We provide emergency accommodation, somewhere warm to eat and wash their clothes but we also provide that emotional support.
"A lot of them were crying a lot of them were really worried they'd have nowhere to go.
"I've worked on this for the last two years, I've put a lot of time into this, it's my whole life.
"I'm a veteran myself and I know the importance of helping these people get back on their feet."
If you would like to donate you can donate here: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/veteranshelpingveterans#start
