AN Armed Forces charity last night urged veterans struggling with civilian life to seek help, as new details emerged showing the range of social and financial difficulties being faced by former servicemen and women across the region.

SSAFA revealed it had helped hundreds of veterans in the North-East and North Yorkshire who had fallen on hard times so far this year, and launched a new campaign targeting those who may be too proud to ask for support.

The figures come as the Royal British Legion in the North-East prepares to launch its annual Poppy Appeal today (Thursday, October 27) ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

This year's appeal is expected to ask people to consider younger veterans who need help, as well as the older generation.

The figures obtained from SSAFA by The Northern Echo show it has supported 170 people so far this year from its Durham and Tees Valley branch and 198 in North Yorkshire.

The charity said some former servicemen and women are relying on food banks to get by, and in worst case scenarios some younger veterans are ending up homeless or in prison.

But the charity said it believed there were many more local working age veterans who would benefit from help, but who were "too proud" to ask.

Its ‘Got Your Back’ campaign aims to encourage people to come forward should they need assistance with anything from urgent debt support, essential food and clothing, home mobility adaptations for those who have been injured in service, and training costs to get them back into work.

Former soldier David Swift joined the Army aged 17, but aged 40 found himself living on the streets.

He said: “I went from being a healthy young man in a great regiment to someone sitting in a park wondering what the point of my life was. You need help, but your pride is too important to you to ask for help.

“Sometimes you think your family would be better off without you.”

The charity’s chief executive Sir Andrew Gregory said: “Soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen are resilient characters.

“However, for those individuals and their families who find the transition out of the armed forces difficult, some are then too proud to ask for help.

“The aim of the campaign is simple and the message is clear – those who have served this country and those who have supported them have protected our backs.

“Don’t be too proud now to ask us to protect yours.”

It is estimated there are 128,000 people of all ages living in the North-East who have previously served in the armed forces, about one in 17 of the population.

Veterans and their families can contact SSAFA’s free and confidential Forcesline on 0800 731 4880 or see www.ssafa.org.uk/gotyourback

The charity is also asking members of the public who may be concerned about a veteran to encourage them to contact the free number for help.