Right now, the good news for Hartlepool just keeps on coming and this week is no exception.

You’ll remember earlier in the year we announced our bid for a Valour veterans support centre in Hartlepool.

Well we’ve done it. We’ve secured the funding.

Nearly £1 million from this Labour government will include a new veterans support centre in Middleton Grange.

Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash and his wife Cllr Pamela Hargreaves, centre, of Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool Development Corporation, with members of East Durham Veterans Trust in the upcoming Valour support centre.

placeholder image — Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash and his wife Cllr Pamela Hargreaves, centre, of Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool Development Corporation, with members of East Durham Veterans Trust in the upcoming Valour support centre.

This is real, tangible backing for those who have served our country and deserve nothing less than the very best in return.

This didn’t happen by accident. It was an extraordinary team effort across our community and I want to start by saying a huge thank you to everyone who made it possible.

In particular, I want to pay a fulsome tribute to Andy Cammiss and the whole team at East Durham Veterans Trust.

From day one, they have led this bid with passion, professionalism and deep commitment.

Their expertise and determination have been central to getting this over the line and Hartlepool owes them a huge debt of gratitude.

I also want to thank the many local partners who stepped up: our veterans groups, who helped shape what this centre must deliver, Hartlepool Council leader Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, for her backing with free parking for veterans using the centre, our development corporation for providing space rent free, our armed forces champion, Councillor Chris Wallace, our Armed Forces Liaison Group and all those across our town who united behind a shared mission to do right by those who have worn the uniform.

Since the January bid was submitted, I have lobbied ministers tirelessly to make the case for Hartlepool, making clear that this town looks after its own and that our veterans deserve proper investment.

It wasn’t easy. There was strong competition from across the country.

But we kept pushing, making the argument and fighting for every penny and now we’ve secured nearly £1 million to make this vision a reality.

It will be a place of support, friendship and opportunity, a hub where veterans can access help, connect with others and build the next chapter of their lives.

For me, this is personal. Hartlepool has a proud history of service, with thousands of veterans living in our town today.

They stood up for us, this is about making sure we stand up for them.