A Darlington care home is set to become a new hub for the local armed forces community with the launch of a dedicated weekly veterans' drop-in session.
A Warm Welcome for Veterans and Families
North Park Care Home on L'Anson Street will open its doors every Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30am, starting on the 5th of February 2026. The initiative is open to veterans, their families, and any members of the public who wish to attend. Sessions will be held in the home's communal areas, aiming to foster connections across the local community.
Lisa Frame, the senior general manager at North Park, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. "We are delighted to welcome ex-service personnel and their families from our local area to North Park to offer them support," she said. "We are very hopeful that the drop-in will prove to be a great success. Please do come along on February the 5th for a coffee, a friendly chat, and to try our wonderful chef's homemade cakes and pastries – everyone is welcome."
More Than Just a Cuppa: Building Support and Friendship
The two-hour events will provide more than just refreshments. They are designed to create a relaxed space where people can meet others with shared experiences, socialise, and build new friendships. Importantly, the drop-ins will also offer guests the chance to connect with veteran support agencies and charities, providing a direct pathway to advice and practical help.
This new Thursday gathering joins an active network of veteran-focused events in Darlington. The local borough council lists a Veterans Cafe that meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 10am at Bradbury House, Age UK. Furthermore, the Darlington and Stockton Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club meets regularly at The White Horse on Burtree Lane, ensuring multiple options for ex-servicemen and women to find company and support.
Becoming a Community Hub
The veterans' drop-in is the latest in a series of community outreach efforts by North Park Care Home. Recently, the home hosted an open day on the 18th of January 2026, inviting locals to tour its facilities. It has also run initiatives to support emergency services staff by offering them free food, drink, and Wi-Fi while on duty.
These activities form part of a broader strategy to position the home as a community focal point and provide practical help to frontline workers. North Park provides residential, nursing, and dementia care alongside respite stays, with an operator that emphasises a varied life enrichment programme for its residents.
For more information about the new veterans' drop-in, contact Lisa Frame at North Park Care Home on 01325 356000 or email northpark@barchester.com. The home's address is L'Anson Street, Darlington, DL3 0SW, as listed by the Care Quality Commission.
