A CAMPAIGN to protect the NHS will be launched by activists who raised more than £700 with the help of a legendary filmmaker.

Last Monday, I, Daniel Blake and Kes director Ken Loach visited The Forum in Darlington to speak at an event staged in opposition to the privatisation of the NHS.

Organised by Waking Up to Climate Change and Darlington Film Club, it centred on a screening of Mr Loach’s documentary Spirit of ’45, which documents the history of the NHS and post-war Britain.

The film was followed by a Q&A session with the renowned director, who spoke of his support for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and urged those present to engage with politics to protect the NHS and other public services.

The sold-out audience also enjoyed a meal provided by Darlington-based Food for Thought, a group which produces communal meals created using food salvaged from supermarkets that would otherwise have gone to waste.

The event saw £780 raised through ticket sales, with organisers pledging to divide all of the money between local good causes while setting aside £240 to kick start a new campaign to “fight privatisation of the NHS.”

Organiser Louise Graham described the event as “incredible” and said it had inspired all present to “keep fighting for a better, fairer world for all," adding: “People are waking up every day to the reality of what is happening to our NHS and the sinister agenda behind it and the message from Monday evening was quite clear - we absolutely do not want a privatised healthcare system in the UK.”

Ms Graham said that the new campaign - which is in its earliest stages and separate to the one launched by MP Jenny Chapman to protect services at Darlington Memorial Hospital - aimed to raise awareness of the issues affecting the NHS.

Urging people to get involved she said: “We will meet soon to discuss how we do this but it is likely to be linked to the NHS 70th birthday celebrations this summer.”

The remainder of the funds raised will be split between Keep Our NHS Public North East, The Forum, 999 Call for the NHS Judicial Review – which is taking NHS England to court - and Gracie’s Memory, which is raising £1,000 to improve the maternity bereavement suite at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

For more information or to join the new campaign, email wakinguptoclimatechange@gmail.com.