Burnley's Healthier Heroes praised in parliament

Andrew Powell, co-founder of veteran community group Healthier Heroes alongside wife Rio Powell, went to London on Monday (September 11) to attend a veterans' gathering.

Veterans, charities and organisations met at 10 Downing Street to meet Veterans' Minister Johnny Mercer and other MPs.

Andrew Powell with Lee Anderson MP (Image: Andrew Powell)

They were thanked for the work they do for veterans.

Andrew was also given a tour around parliament and the House of Commons by Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson MP.

Andrew said: “We were invited by Anthony Higginbotham to go to meet Johnny Mercer so that he could personally thank us for all of our hard work and commitment to veterans and the armed forces in the community.

“We also met other veteran charities and organisations. We were able to network with all of these groups which were based all over the UK.

Andrew Powell with war veteran Mark Harding (Image: Andrew Powell)

Johnny addressed us all in a speech where we were given thanks and praise.

“I then had the pleasure of a personal tour around parliament and the House of Commons.”

Lee said it was nice to be thanked for his work at Healthier Heroes, which provides housing, mental health and wellbeing support to the veteran community.

He said: “It was nice to be thanked. It solidifies the work we do and shows that we are being recognised and seen.

“It gives us a bit more of a push to keep doing what we are doing.

“The group has evolved massively since we set up in 2018. We started off just as a place to signpost services.

“Now we deliver supported housing, mental health and drug addiction help pathways. We also support suicide prevention services.

“The trip has allowed us to network with other groups and also showcase our brand to people who might not have heard about us.”