SSAFA launches pioneering GP outreach scheme in North Yorkshire to support veterans

14 April 2026

A new initiative being rolled out by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity (North Yorkshire branch), aims to help raise awareness among GPs and primary care teams of the wider support available to veterans and their families beyond medical care.

It is hoped that, if successful, the initiative could be rolled out more widely across the North and potentially in other parts of the UK to help more GP practices better understand the wider support available to the Armed Forces community.

Healthcare professionals and veterans gathered at Dyneley House GP Practice in Skipton to hear how SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is helping members of the Armed Forces community across North Yorkshire and how they can encourage veterans and serving personnel to come forward.

Community Engagement Lead for SSAFA North Yorkshire branch, Beverley Robb, outlined the wide range of practical and emotional support available to veterans and their families across the county.

The session helped strengthen links between local primary care services and SSAFA’s volunteer network, ensuring that veterans can be identified early and signposted to the right support when needed.

Beverley explained that while GP practices provide essential medical care, SSAFA can help with many of the wider challenges that sometimes affect members of the Armed Forces community.

This includes support with home-related needs, access to financial assistance and grants, mobility equipment, navigating benefits and entitlements, mentoring, counselling and connecting veterans with specialist services and partner organisations, and much more.

SSAFA’s trained volunteer caseworkers also provide one-to-one support to individuals and families experiencing difficult circumstances, helping them access tailored assistance quickly and confidentially.

Beverley Robb said: “It was a pleasure to meet both veterans and healthcare professionals at Dyneley House GP Practice. Many people don’t realise the breadth of support SSAFA can offer beyond medical care. By working closely with GP practices and community services, we can make sure veterans and their families know they never have to face challenges alone. We hope to build on this visit by working with more GP practices across North Yorkshire so that even more members of the Armed Forces community know where to turn for support.”

Dr Emily Frinton, GP Registrar at Dyneley House Practice said: “It was brilliant to welcome Beverley from SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity to Dyneley House GP Practice. It was really helpful for both our team and patients to learn more about the practical support SSAFA can provide. Primary care teams are often the first point of contact for veterans, so strengthening links like this helps ensure patients can be signposted to the right support.”