The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
GIVE GENEROUSLY TO SUPPORT the ROYAL BRITISH LEGION’S
WORK FOR THE EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY
In the role that the Legion fills today we are committed to ensuring that every member of the ex-Service community is able to live happily and independently, with a sustainable future.
We look after :-
those serving - all veterans who have served in HM armed forces - and all of their dependents.
It is estimated that 6.2 million persons are eligible for aid
Direct access is available to all beneficiaries 7 days / wk.
– IF THEY ARE IN NEED -
through the helpline 0808 802 8080 (from 8am – 8pm)
The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, is a membership organisation with 180,000 members worldwide, in nearly 2,300 local, 98 overseas and 7 national branches and sub-branches, in 402 clubs.
We have 4 main objectives within the organisation i.e.
WELFARE – REPRESENTATION
REMEMBRANCE – COMRADESHIP.
The Legion depends on the dedication and commitment of over 120,000 thousand volunteers, who commit time and energy in supporting our charitable objectives.
The Legion’s Branches, like us here at Copythorne, also provide Community Support including home and hospital visits, support for the bereaved, telephone comradeship calls and awareness events.
TO ENABLE US TO FULFILL OUR STATED OBLIGATIONS WE MUST RAISE FUNDS.
Some £97.5 million was spent last year on health and welfare services, so that every week last year the Legion channels £1.875M into its welfare activities.
We work closely with other charities such as Combat Stress, Forces Employment (RFEA), X-Forces, Warrior Programme, Veterans UK, and Admiral Nurse (for dementia care), Citizen’s Advice, Age UK, all Armed Forces charities and others to get the most appropriate support for clients.
We helped wounded, injured, and sick personnel at our Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall to achieve their best recovery to service or civilian life.
The Legion provides funds for other organisations with grants which focus on employment and training, family support, homelessness and crisis outreach, and supporting the elderly.
Our Care Homes have 94% occupancy
As you will be aware, the Poppy Appeal is held annually for 14 days in October/November and although our national Poppy Appeal is extremely well supported, it cannot fully fund the annual requirements of our charity, some £165M.
And, we do not expect money to be donated to us without making some effort to raise our own funds. Throughout the year Branches put great effort into finding other ways of raising additional funds to swell our Benevolent Fund.
The Legion, nationally, runs events throughout the year. They run a lottery, and a certain amount is raised through our Trading companies, and this totaled nearly £20.5M last year.
We receive monies from donations and legacies left to us by members and others. This amounted to a grand total of £50.1M and for this, we are more than grateful.
All in all this additional income helps us to fully fund our welfare activities.
We also must pay for the service that runs the Legion including our staff and the cost of our fundraising and other activities such as the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall: the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire: Remembrance Tours (for relatives to visit war graves) and our efforts in campaigning to support the welfare of our armed forces.
The ‘Armed Forces Covenant’ supported by local District and County Councils and by the Government, covers housing, education, employment, health, social care, immigration, disability benefits, tax, pensions and more. This help can be demanded by law and is fully supported by the Legion.
Our help is not only cash. There is a vital need to visit ex-service persons who though, not in financial need, do need a shoulder to lean on for a variety of reasons – or they might just like a chat. This is something that everyone in the local branches can do.
So, GIVE a donation and wear your POPPY to show that YOU support the EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY
For more detailed information on what we do, check out our Website at www.britishlegion.org.uk
