Plans for veteran support centre unveiled

Details of a £1m funding bid for a new veterans centre have been unveiled.

The Valour Support Centre in Hartlepool town centre will open in the spring to provide "joined up" access to support, including health and housing.

The aim is to "put veterans first" by cutting through the "patchwork of services" and making it easier for people to get the help they need.

Jonathan Brash, Labour MP for Hartlepool, said irrespective of the bid he was "determined to improve" support for more than 4,000 veterans in the town and securing the funding would mean more could be achieved quickly.

Those involved in the bid to secure a share of £50m from a national initiative, shared their plans for the centre with guests on Thursday, at the proposed site behind the cenotaph.

They included East Durham Veterans Trust, Hartlepool Armed Forces Liaison Group, Hartlepool Royal British Legion, Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool Development Corporation.

The central location, provided by Hartlepool Development Corporation, includes free parking for veterans.

"We've got a thriving veteran community but they often tell me that sometimes accessing support can be difficult," Brash said.

He said creating "a one stop" veteran centre, run by veterans, would make a "huge difference" to their lives, as they would relate to each other better.

"They served us and it's about time we served them," he said.

He added there was a lot of work to be done but their ambition was to open within the first half of 2026, whether or not the bid was successful.

Veteran John Daly said after leaving the Army he found change "quiet difficult" at first, but he was married and had children so it was easier for him to adjust than those without a support network.

He said a lot of veterans struggled with their mental health while trying to "find their feet" and get on to the property ladder or get a job.

After being in the forces where things are "regimented", he said "it's very hard to adjust".

He added it was "very important" to be around like-minded people to share knowledge on overcoming obstacles and getting advice.

Fellow veteran Mick Male said it was very important to have "tailored support".

"It's hard to get help if you're new and you haven't lived in Hartlepool," he said.

As a member of the Armed Forces Liaison Group, he found out about the plans on Wednesday and said he was "over the moon".

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