Homeless Veterans campaign: Now we can change more lives for the better – thank you, everyone

There is still work to do but this campaign has brought hope to countless veterans

When we decided to make homeless veterans the subject of last year’s Christmas Appeal across The Independent and its sister titles, a thought crossed my mind. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, I thought, if we hit £1m. But I didn’t think we’d do it.

And now we have. This is nothing less than an astonishing achievement. I want to extend my deep personal thanks to every reader of this newspaper who donated – and also to Antonio Horto-Osorio and his team at Lloyds Banking Group. Their generosity, in giving £300,000 to a cause I know they care passionately about, has catapulted us from £700,000 to that frankly remarkable £1m mark.

Because of your kindness, we have changed the lives of people who served this country overseas but fell on hard times after returning to civilian life. We have a duty to them; and, thanks to you, we are now fulfilling it much better. There is still work to do, of course, but this campaign has brought hope to countless veterans. I’m so proud about that – and hope that you are too.

Evgeny Lebedev is the owner of ‘The Independent’ and ‘Evening Standard’. Follow him on Twitter: @mrevgenylebedev