TWO Winchester charities for the homeless have been given a huge boost thanks to a £1m windfall following the closure of a military charity.

Winchester Churches Nightshelter and Trinity Winchester will each receive £500,000 to help people in need.

The money has come from Deflog VQ Trust set up by Brigadier Tom Blyth whose son Ben was a client of both charities.

The charity is closing and its assets will be distributed to other organisations.

The gift is testimony to the help, care and support that Brigadier Blyth’s son Ben (pictured) found in the city when he was homeless and suffering from a complicated and incurable mental health condition which eventually led to his death by the railway in 2010 at the age of 33.

A memorial bench on St Giles’ Hill remembers him in the words “Gentle, kind and generous: he touched many hearts and found great kindness in this city”.

Ben went to school in Dorset and to Peter Symonds College in Winchester before gaining an HND at college in Cheltenham. Education and subsequent working life was not easy and he fell victim to mental illness. For the final years of his life Ben was homeless, at first in London and later in Winchester.

Ben regularly refused hostel accommodation, medical intervention and government benefits, choosing to live a lifestyle where he was in control and able to make his own choices. After the harsh years on the streets in London he found help, care and compassion from the charities in the city including the Nightshelter and Trinity.

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Speaking about the donation, Brig Blyth said: “Ben’s story is very complex, yet it is shared by others who are homeless today. Some have a background in the armed forces.

“Many are desperate and damaged by mental illness, family breakdown, poverty, and abuse.

“The trustees of DEFLOG VQ Trust and I are honoured to help Trinity Winchester and the Winchester Churches Nightshelter to continue their work in the city.”

Operations Director of Trinity Winchester Sue McKenna said: “It has not been decided yet what we will spend the money on but we want to do something different with the money perhaps a project to help people move on.

“We are having discussions with the Nightshelter as well because they received the same donation. We want something that will help change peoples lives as this is a life changing donation.”

The Nightshelter, based next to the Discovery Centre in Jewry Street, is looking to increase and improve its services.

Nightshelter Manager, Michele Price, said: “Ben was a delightful young man whose gentleness and kindness touched so many of the people who worked with him. His story shows how homelessness really can happen to anyone.”

Ms Price added: “Sometimes severe mental illness puts people beyond the reach of even the strongest ties of family love and support. We are seeing a huge increase in the number of people affected by complex mental health issues and if we can use this funding to alleviate that in some way it will be a lasting tribute to Ben.”