Bridging the Gap: Supporting Veterans in County Durham and Darlington with Cancer Information and Support | Guest Blog by

01 August 2025 — jessica-bailey

In this guest blog post, we hear from the County Durham and Darlington Veterans’ Project as they share how they are supporting veterans with cancer information and support, while working to remove the barriers veterans often face when accessing health and wellbeing services.

“In County Durham and Darlington, the percentage of people who have served in the British Armed Forces is notably higher than both the UK and North East averages. While this proud military heritage is a defining aspect of the area, it also brings unique challenges—particularly when it comes to accessing healthcare. 

A recent Veteran Health Needs Assessment identified several barriers veterans face when seeking health and wellbeing support. Many struggle to find accurate information, often feel disconnected from how services are marketed, and encounter healthcare professionals who don’t always understand their lived experiences. While military charities offer valuable help, veterans frequently report being unaware of local resources or confused by the range of services on offer. 

To address this, a collaborative project was launched to reduce cancer related health inequalities for veterans across County Durham and Darlington. Rooted in the NHS’s Core20PLUS5 strategy—which targets early cancer diagnosis in the most deprived communities and better support for inclusion health groups—the aim was to develop tailored support that meets veterans’ needs. 

Building a Unified Front: Project Partners and Purpose 

The project brought together a broad coalition, including County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), the Northern Cancer Alliance, Durham Dales Health Federation, Primary Healthcare Darlington, and Healthwatch County Durham. They were joined by local veteran organisations such as SSAFA, Help for Heroes, and others, with research support from Northumbria University’s Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families. 

Their shared mission was to improve veterans’ engagement with cancer information and support throughout the cancer pathway. 

Taking Action: Engaging Veterans and Stakeholders 

In May 2024 a stakeholder event was held at Bishop Auckland Football Club. The event brought together veteran-focused organisations to discuss how best to support veterans with cancer-related care and information. Key feedback from the event shaped the next phase of the project as well as the delivery of an online training programme, Psychology of Veterans, which took place in October 2024 to over 30 healthcare professionals. This training aimed to help practitioners better understand veterans’ unique perspectives and needs. 

Listening to Veterans: Workshops that Shaped the Project 

To directly involve veterans in shaping the resources, two cancer information workshops were planned. The first, held in Blackhall in October 2024, unfortunately had no attendees. Despite widespread promotion, it underscored the importance of choosing familiar, trusted venues. The second workshop, hosted again at Bishop Auckland Football Club—a known hub for the local SSAFA breakfast club—saw over 35 veterans attend. 

The insights gained were invaluable. Veterans emphasized that information must be clear, direct, and presented in a style they can relate to. QR codes were preferred for digital access, but printed resources remained important for some. Crucially, veterans wanted to hear from other veterans—people who understand their experiences.

Making a Difference: Outputs and Legacy 

Based on the feedback, the team developed: 

• New leaflets and banners featuring tailored cancer support information for veterans, incorporating QR codes and clear points of contact. 

• Redesigned cancer support materials from CDDFT to reflect veterans’ preferences for language, tone, and design. 

• Two short videos, filmed in March 2025, featuring veterans discussing cancer awareness and support. These videos will be hosted on CDDFT and Northern Cancer Alliance websites and shared across veteran networks. 

What We Learned 

A major lesson was the importance of building on existing relationships and delivering events in trusted settings. The successful workshop’s location—already familiar to the veterans—is believed to have had a positive impact on attendance. Face-to-face collaboration among project partners also strengthened delivery, creativity and mutual understanding. 

Veterans played a leading role throughout, helping design and lead the workshop, review materials, and provide lived experience. Their involvement ensured the final outputs truly resonated with the intended audience. 

Looking Forward: Recommendations for Better Support 

The project team put forward several recommendations, including: 

1. Providing military awareness training for healthcare staff. 

1. Keeping information simple, structured, and visually appealing. 

1. Minimising confusion by offering one key contact where possible. 

1. Using familiar imagery and voices—especially from within the Armed Forces community. 

1. Offering both digital and paper formats. 

1. Using QR codes with clear instructions. 

1. Involving veterans in delivering support and information. 

Final Thoughts 

This innovative project shows how listening, collaboration, and targeted action can make a real difference. While the initial focus was on cancer care, the findings have broader implications for veteran healthcare access and experience. The resources and learning from this initiative are now being shared regionally through platforms like the Northern Cancer Alliance’s My Wellbeing Space My Wellbeing Space . 

In recognition of its impact, the project was shortlisted for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award at the 2025 North East Public Health Conference. 

By putting veterans at the heart of the conversation, the County Durham and Darlington veterans’ project team are taking important steps toward more inclusive, effective healthcare for all.”

You can find cancer support, specifically for the Armed Forces community, including currently serving personnel, veterans, cadets and Service loved ones and carers at Cancer Care Map. To find services in your local area, along with national and online support, search using your postcode on our site.