The Stoll Foundation, the leading provider of supported housing to vulnerable veterans, has been awarded a £172,438 grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to run Veterans’ Voices: 100 Years of Housing Heroes, a multi-year project exploring the charity’s rich heritage, famous founder, and heroic residents.
Running from 2026 – 2028, the Veterans’ Voices project will uncover the charity’s forgotten history by enabling The Stoll Foundation’s residents and members of the local community to explore archives, learn heritage skills, and take part in creative workshops, Veterans’ Voices will culminate in an exhibition in 2028 featuring never-seen-before archival material.
The Stoll Foundation (originally The War Seal Foundation) has been a landmark in the Fulham area for over 100 years. It was founded in 1916 to provide accessible housing, support, and medical treatment to soldiers returning from the frontline of the First World War with traumatic and debilitating injuries. Today, the charity supports more than 300 residents across properties in West London and Aldershot, providing safe housing and wellbeing support to enable vulnerable and disabled veterans to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
The charity was founded by theatre impresario Sir Oswald Stoll, whose claims to fame include founding the Royal Variety Performance, establishing some of the country’s most famous theatres including the London Coliseum, and running what was at one point the biggest film production company in the UK. Despite being a household name in his day, his philanthropy and vast contributions to the arts have largely been forgotten. The project will shed light on the life and work of the entertainment legend, as well as the contribution of other original board members including the founders of Selfridges and Boots.
“The impetus for the Veterans’ Voices project was the sale of our original building [Stoll Mansions] to our neighbours, Chelsea FC, which has enabled us to purchase modern, higher quality accommodation for our veterans. It is vital that we explore and preserve the memories, stories and heritage of the Mansions and the Foundation before we leave. We’ll be exploring stories across the 110 years of our history, from our first residents – soldiers who suffered life-changing injuries the First World War – to our current residents, who have served in a range of recent conflicts,” said Heritage Project Officer Dr. Olivia Baskerville.
Initial research has already begun uncovering incredible stories from The Stoll Foundation’s past, including the fight to protect Stoll Mansions from air raids during the Second World War, the harrowing tales of veterans’ wives who literally carried their disabled husbands on their backs every day, and how Sir Oswald rallied the entertainment industry to support veterans returning from the war. Volunteers and veterans will be sharing their research with the public through talks, walking tours, workshops and more from Autumn 2026 onwards, in partnership with the Fulham Society and Hammersmith and Fulham Libraries.
Will Campbell-Wroe, Chief Executive for the Stoll Foundation, said “We are delighted to receive a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the Veterans’ Voices project. The stories of our charity, our founder, and our residents are fascinating and deserve to be investigated and shared. We hope the project provides new opportunities for our veterans and helps us build lasting ties with the local community while honouring the memory of the many brave men and women who have called The Stoll Foundation home over the last century.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England, London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re delighted to support The Stoll Foundation’s Veterans’ Voices project, thanks to National Lottery players. This project will help uncover the remarkable stories of the veterans and community who have shaped the Foundation over more than a century. By exploring its archives and sharing its history, the project will create meaningful opportunities for people to connect with the past, celebrate the charity’s legacy, and ensure these important stories are preserved for future generations.”
The project is actively recruiting volunteers from the local Fulham area, who are encouraged to express their interest to heritage@stoll.org.uk. A launch event, open to the local community, will be held at Stoll Mansions, 446 Fulham Road, SW6 1DT on the 18th September from 6pm.
