Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Paul Matson and I am the founder of Hull 4 Heroes.

​You may have read some newspaper articles, heard about the team on the radio or perhaps even seen us on the television, but let me just explain how this all started:

I served in the British Military for many years I both enjoyed and partially endured my service to Queen and Country, some of the things I’ve seen whilst serving I wouldn’t wish on anybody. Upon leaving the army I can now admit that I suffered and found myself adrift from mainstream society, ultimately ending up homeless for a period of time. It’s not all doom and gloom I promise, I managed with the help of others around me, to get myself out of that situation and back to my family. Then creating a business for myself which is now thankfully successful and provides for my growing family of children and now grandchildren.

Because of my experiences both in and out of the military when I heard of the BBC DIY SOS Big Build in Manchester creating a ‘Veteran’s Street’ I jumped at the chance to give something back. Taking both myself and some of the lads that work for me across the country to help other veterans, as I’d once been helped many years before.  The whole experience was amazing and fantastic to see how quickly a group of tradesmen and women, quite a lot ex-military themselves gel as a group with one common purpose – to help.

Once back in Hull, driving around the city from job to job I took a really long look around and thought – Well why can’t we do that here? Why can’t the great city of Hull, with all the kind and generous people host the next ‘Veterans Street’?

It’s a very simple question and once posted on social media, I was quite frankly staggered at the response I received, I knew the people of Hull were great but wow did they prove it to me in those first few days and continue to do so to this very day.

It very quickly became apparent that I definitely wasn’t going to be able to do this alone and I invited several like minded members some ex-military some not, to join me in this quest and the Hull 4 Heroes committee was born. The diverse nature of the 10 strong committee means we can cover all aspects of requirements of both the business of being a Charity as well as providing that much needed help to Veterans.

We do not say a veteran is any better or more worthwhile than any other member of society but what we have seen is veterans getting a raw deal and we want to be able to change that in any small way, to make their lives more bearable and help them concentrate on healing both the physical and mental wounds of war.

We are now a registered Charity as of the 7th November 2016.

We’ve formed bonds and links with many local businesses, other local and national military based charities and the Hull City Council and associated agencies.