Mark Cawley, who serviced in the Royal Navy as a Senior Service, lives in one of our supported housing accommodation designed to support military veterans.
Driven by early ambitions and a strong desire to join the Navy, Mark grew up in a family with deep military roots—his grandfather served 38 years in the Royal Navy, and his father was a Royal Marine.
Mark decided at just 14 years old that he wanted to serve his country after watching a recruitment film at school.
Our resident Mark said: “I went to join up at 14, not knowing any different. So, I went there and the petty officer was really nice and asked my date of birth, and he said ‘you’re a bit young aren’t you? Want to join up? Really?’
“I remember smiling and he went, ‘that’s the kind of bloke we want’. They actually sat me the naval test there and then that day as a pre-emptive to joining up.
“Every month, right the way up to halfway through to my sixteenth birthday, they sent me the Navy News to keep me of interest, and it was free of charge.”
Looking back on the early days of joining HMS Raleigh in Plymouth, Mark was quite surprised with his new environment away from his home life.
Mark said: “I remember joining up and my navy life at Raleigh was less disciplined than being at home, let’s put it that way.
“It was so refreshing but they found it strange because they had to undiscipline me to rediscipline me.
“I remember that they had to break me, to make me.
“It’s the friends, it’s the camaraderie. I can’t live if I’m not near the sea. I need that draw and it’s always been there right from my teens.”
Today, Mark is receiving support from LiveWest alongside other veterans at the scheme.
Mark reflects on the positive impact LiveWest has had on his life since moving in last April, sharing the personal improvements he’s seen within himself along the way.
He added: “LiveWest in a nutshell… it’s made a home, not a house. It’s about team, not I. Everybody works together in an integral cog in a well-made machine.
“I don’t think it’s the house mates helping me, it’s me helping the house mates and supporting them because I would say they’re all in crisis. We’re all in crisis in some stage of our life.
“There are some people who fit and some who don’t and LiveWest are very good at changing the scenario and moving people to support that will help.
“We have a nice roast dinner, I should've been a chef really. It’s all about making it more interacting and having people cook for themselves and be able to buy food.
“It’s all part and parcel in treating them the art of cooking which is what I hop e to do as well hence all the baking.
“It’s all of us and it’s really nice that that happens, and if some put in more than others, that doesn’t matter that’s not the point and you all help each other… it’s a nice home. I didn’t say that till last July/August, it’s a nice home now, not a house.”
We launched our Let’s Talk Supported Housing Campaign to share stories like this and highlight the positive impact supported housing has on individuals and families within communities.
Discover more about LiveWest’s Let’s Talk Supported Housing Campaign (#LetsTalkSH) and supported housing services here.