04 November 2026
WithYou’s Head of Service Delivery for Darlington at STRIDE, Gary Besterfield has spent more than two decades supporting people affected by drug and alcohol use. But his commitment to helping others began long before his career in recovery services, shaped by his own experiences in the Army and a lasting determination to support fellow veterans.
When Gary joined the Army in 1988, he was just 16 years old. Inspired by his grandfather, who had served in the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War, he was eager to follow in his footsteps.
Gary joined the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, undertaking ceremonial duties at some of the country’s most recognisable landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. It was an experience he remembers with pride.
But alongside the ceremonial duties came experiences that would stay with him long after he left the Army.
Gary spent his 18th birthday serving in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and later deployed to the Gulf War, where the 1st Battalion supported Operation Granby as part of the 1st Armored Division within the Allied Coalition.
Looking back now, he recognises the impact of entering military life at such a young age.
“I joined as a 16 year old boy, and now, looking back, I realise it was no place for a 16-year-old. I would argue that Northern Ireland was no place for an 18-year-old either.”
Those early experiences helped shape his understanding of trauma and the challenges people can carry with them throughout their lives. They also gave him a personal insight into why some people need support long after a difficult experience has ended.
Finding a new purpose through understanding people
After leaving the Army, Gary spent time moving between jobs, searching for something that offered a greater sense of fulfillment.
He had always been interested in human behavior and wanted to understand why people make the choices they do, including why some turn to drugs or alcohol.
That curiosity led him back into education. Gary completed an access course before studying biological anthropology at Durham University, exploring human behaviour and the factors that influence it.
In 2001, Gary began volunteering at First Step in Middlesbrough, an experience that would set the direction for the rest of his career.
“I remember someone sitting down with me on my first day and saying, ‘You’ll either love this work or hate it.’ I loved it.”
Gary went on to become an addictions worker in the NHS in 2003, developing his experience across the drug and alcohol sector. He later became a team manager and worked in the hospital liaison team at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, helping ensure people attending A&E received appropriate support around their drug and alcohol use.
In November 2018, Gary joined WithYou as Service Manager for Redcar & Cleveland. Having been born and brought up in the area, the role meant more to him than simply taking on a new job.
It gave him the opportunity to support people in the communities he knew and cared about.
Today, as Head of Service Delivery for WithYou in Darlington at STRIDE working closely with Darlington Borough Council and Recovery Connections, Gary continues to lead teams and work alongside partners to help people access the support they need.
Why supporting veterans matters
Despite moving on from military service decades ago, Gary’s connection to the Armed Forces remains a significant part of who he is and how he approaches his work.
He is passionate about improving support for veterans affected by drug and alcohol use, drawing on both his professional experience and his understanding of the challenges that can follow military service.
Gary believes young people entering the Armed Forces are not always fully prepared for what they might experience, and that the effects of conflict and trauma can emerge years later.
With people continuing to leave the Armed Forces after serving in conflicts including Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, Gary believes it is vital that local services understand veterans’ experiences and provide the right support when they need it.
Veterans will listen to veterans. They will take on board what someone is saying when they know that person has also served and been through difficult times.
For Gary, this is closely connected to the value of lived experience across recovery services. “Having faced challenges yourself can help you build trust, understand another person’s perspective and show that recovery is possible.”, Gary continues.
“The effects of difficult experiences do not necessarily disappear with time. Memories can resurface, and there can still be difficult days. But with the right support, people can learn to cope with those experiences and move forward.
“People should not feel they have to manage everything alone. Support from family, friends and professionals can make a real difference.”
Working together to make a difference in Darlington
At STRIDE, Gary brings this understanding into his work supporting people affected by drug and alcohol use, while helping his team build strong relationships with local organisations and partners.
“I believe collaboration is essential to making sure people receive joined-up support, whether they are working with the council, criminal justice services, recovery organisations or other local services.
“Partnership working is particularly important when supporting veterans, whose needs may extend beyond drug and alcohol treatment to include mental health, social connection and other challenges associated with life after service.” said Gary.
The service also recognises the importance of making veterans visible within their communities, including through local remembrance events and opportunities to connect with other people who understand their experiences.
For Gary and the team, the principle is simple: people are more likely to engage with support when they feel understood, respected and able to trust the person alongside them.
Taking every step for veterans
This Remembrance Sunday, that commitment will take on a physical form.
Alongside Jake Towns, Operations Manager for WithYou in Darlington at STRIDE and others, Gary will be taking part in Hike for Heroes, a 107-mile walk from Burnley in Lancashire to the cenotaph in Guisborough, Cleveland, raising awareness of and supporting veterans.
Gary knows the challenge will be gruelling, but he is looking forward to testing himself and taking on something meaningful.
“With every single footstep, I’ll be thinking about the people who are no longer here — those who lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces, but also those who are no longer here because of the struggles they faced afterwards.”
For him, supporting veterans is not simply part of his job. It is a lifelong commitment.
“Till the day I die, I want to commit my life to supporting veterans.”
His journey from a young soldier to a leader in recovery services has given him a distinctive perspective on the importance of understanding people, recognising the impact of trauma and making sure support is there when it is needed.
At WithYou in Darlington at STRIDE, that experience informs the way he leads and supports others every day — helping create a service where people can feel heard, understood and supported to move forward.
A shared commitment to supporting veterans and their communities
Gary won’t be taking on Hike for Heroes alone. Joining him is WithYou in Darlington at STRIDE’s Operations Manager, Jake Towns who shares his passion for supporting people from military backgrounds and understands the importance of the camaraderie and shared purpose that can come with serving others.
When Gary first mentioned the challenge, it immediately struck a chord. Coming from a military family, Jake has a strong personal connection to the Armed Forces. His uncle served in The Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment) then joined the SAS after, whilst his stepdad also served in The Green Howards.
Having also worked in the Prison Service, Jake understands the bonds that develop between people in uniformed services and the challenges of adjusting to life beyond them.
For him, taking part in the walk is a way to honour those who have served, while recognising the difficulties some veterans face after leaving the Armed Forces — including those who experience problems with drugs or alcohol.
“It’s about paying homage to what people have done, putting in a good effort for those who have served, and recognising the people we support who come from a military background and may be struggling with substance use.
We see the wider impact these challenges can have on someone’s life and how difficult it can be to get back to everyday life.
That understanding also informs his work at WithYou in Darlington at STRIDE, where he has taken on responsibility for strengthening the service’s criminal justice offer since moving into his Operations Manager role in July.
A key focus is helping people leaving prison access support quickly, at a time when the transition back into the community can be particularly challenging. The first 24 to 48 hours after release can be crucial, with people at risk of missing out on drug and alcohol support, mental health services and other essential help.
To make that transition easier, the team is developing an approach that involves connecting with people around six weeks before their release. Through visits to prisons, either in person or virtually, staff can meet people in advance, offer pre-release assessments and help them understand the support available through STRIDE working alongside partners.
“The aim is to make the journey from prison back into the community more straightforward, so people know where to go, how to access support and what recovery options are available to them," Jake said.
The team is also working to make information about the service more accessible to people approaching release, including through a dedicated information leaflet explaining the service, its location and opening hours, how to get in touch, needle and syringe provision, and the range of recovery support on offer.
By sharing responsibility for criminal justice work across the wider team, the service is also aiming to strengthen continuity and ensure support remains consistent.
For Jake, these improvements reflect the same principles behind Hike for Heroes: recognising the challenges people face, understanding the importance of connection and making sure no one is left to navigate difficult transitions alone.
Taking on the 107-mile challenge alongside Gary is another way to demonstrate that commitment — both to the Armed Forces community and to the people WithYou and STRIDE supports every day.
