When Stephen Pettit was discharged from the Army after a serious accident, he did what he seems to do best – helping and supporting others.

Stephen, 48, was medically discharged after a crash while he was on duty. He has been left with spinal and nerve damage.

“It is always there in the background, but I manage it fine.”

Stephen was in the Army from 1996 to 2005, serving in Germany, Northern Ireland and Bosnia.

In 2017, he became a support worker at Calderwood House, the Egremont hostel for the homeless, including veterans.

“I left for a job with management potential but, within a year, Calderwood House was advertising for a manager so I went back. I have managed the hostel for four years.”

Although not only for veterans, many ex-servicemen have come through the hostel and many of them have been supported and helped by Stephen.

But his concern for veterans extends beyond the walls of Calderwood House.

He has become known as someone to contact and offers all he can to help.

“I have sat in the back of an ambulance just hugging someone who needed it. I can also signpost people to where they can get help or, sometimes, just listen to their stories.”

Taking on the problems of many could become a burden, but Stephen said he is thick-skinned enough to deal with it.

“Obviously there are times when you have had a really full-on day of problems when it does affect you. But there are also the wonderful times – when someone is able to move out of Calderwood House, or someone has a breakthrough of some kind – and you go home buzzing.”

Stephen and wife Rachel are a modern blended family with children on either side and one daughter they have had together.

Between work and family, Stephen has a busy life – but, as the saying goes, if you want a job done give it to a busy person.

That is why Stephen also runs the Workington Army Cadets Corp.