Poppy Appeal Press background information
21 October 2009
The 2009 Poppy Appeal is focusing on those currently serving as recent casualties and injuries in Afghanistan highlight the increasing need for our help both today and for years to come.
Poppy Appeal of course takes place in the two-week period running up to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day on 11 November, when the Nation pauses for a Two Minute Silence to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice during their service for their country.
More information can be found at:
Poppy Appeal 2009
Our annual Poppy Appeal is the Legion's major fundraising campaign and our aim this year is to surpass last year's total of £31 million, allowing us to continue the work that means so much to the thousands of serving and ex-Service people and their families who approach The Royal British Legion every year for help.
Last year the Appeal raised a record total of just under £31 million. Much of this money goes to fund Poppy Support, the Legion's range of welfare services set up to support those who have served and continue to serve in the British Armed Forces.
The Legion helps people of all ages, providing financial, social and emotional help to all those who have been affected by conflict. Increasingly we see younger people coming to us for help. Beneficiaries range from children to widows, from single mothers to pensioners, in fact anyone who finds themselves in need of help. Some 9.5 million people are eligible to approach us for support.
The 2009 Poppy Appeal campaign highlights the following stark facts about those in need of assistance from The Royal British Legion:
- 40,000 families who need our support.
- 900,000 ex-Service people injured in action.
- Over one million older veterans living in poverty.
- Thousands of families who have lost loved ones
More reasons to give to the Poppy Appeal
- With British Armed Forces on active duty in Afghanistan and on duty in many other parts of the world, a large proportion of whom are currently under 30, the Legion's role of safeguarding the welfare and interests of serving and ex-Service people will be needed for many years to come.
- More than 16,500 British Armed Forces Personnel have been killed or injured on active service since 1945 in conflicts up to the present day, including Bosnia, the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq.
For press enquires about the Poppy Appeal or Remembrance please contact the Legion Press Office on 020 3207 2243, 2237, 2235, 2238, 2239 or visit http://www.poppy.org.uk/.
The Poppy Appeal today
- In 2008, the Poppy Appeal raised almost £31 million for serving and ex-Service people and their dependants.
- Some 300,000 volunteers help to organise and collect for the Poppy Appeal each year.
- Each year the Poppy Appeal distributes around 36 million poppies, 100,000 wreaths and sprays and 750,000 Little Remembrance Crosses. These items are made at the Legion’s Poppy Factory in Richmond, Surrey.
- Poppy protocol - A poppy can be worn at any time, but they are usually available two weeks before Remembrance Sunday. They are made available to broadcasters and politicians in advance which is why they are able to wear them earlier if they so choose.
- You do not have to be a member of the Legion to become a Poppy Appeal collector or organiser. To become involved call 0800 085 5924, visit http://www.poppy.org.uk/ or e-mail Poppy People
Donating to the Poppy Appeal
The Legion urges members of the public to support the hundreds of thousands of people who need our help by wearing a poppy and making a donation to the Poppy Appeal.
- By telephone - call Free phone 0845 845 1945
- By text - text the word Poppy to 70222
- Online - visit the Poppy Appeal website at http://www.poppy.org.uk/
- In person – the Legion has thousands of street collectors and many shops, pubs and businesses have Legion collecting boxes on their premises too.
- By post - send a cheque made payable to The Royal British Legion to: The Royal British Legion, RBL Village, Aylesford Kent ME20 7NX
Poppy Support
The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. 9.5 million people are eligible for Poppy Support and don't have to be members to receive help. The call for this welfare service is increasing year upon year. The services we offer are broken up into the following categories:
Poppy Funds: Our Immediate Needs Scheme can provide funds in a temporary crisis, such as homelessness, or assist with loans for property repairs and starting up a small business. We give practical help to homeless ex-service people and can offer advice and support to those who are serving a prison sentence.
Poppy Advice: We can offer advice on War Pensions, Compensation Claims and also give Careers advice for those leaving the Forces. Our Poppy Advice brand has two other related services, Civvy Street and Benefits and Money Advice.
Civvy Street: http://www.civvystreet.org/ is a website providing employment, re-settlement and vocational information to Service leavers. The Royal British Legion is sponsoring the Civvy Street partnership, and along with several key organisations, it aims to offer better employment, re-settlement and vocational advice for people coming back to civvy street.
Benefits and Money Advice Service: This fully holistic advice service was set up at the end of 2007 across UK Citizens Advice Bureaux across the UK. It is funded by The Royal British Legion and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and is a financial advice service offered to all serving and ex-Serving men and women and their dependents.
Poppy Homes & Break Centres: The Legion has seven Poppy Homes around the UK for ex-Service people and their dependants, with each offering the highest standard of residential and nursing care. As well as care homes, The Royal British Legion also provides breaks at four Poppy Break Centres, which are exclusively for serving and ex-Service people, their dependants and carers. They are designed to offer a well deserved free break to those recovering from an illness or bereavement and are all set in beautiful coastal areas. The centres also cater for families during special 'families’ weeks'.
Poppy People: Volunteers are vital to our organisation - anyone can join as a Poppy Collector, or as a Caseworker, providing emotional support and practical assistance in the local community. We are also always in need of more Hospital and Housebound Visitors.
Poppy Calls: Poppy Calls is a handyman service designed to offer assistance with awkward jobs such as minor repairs, or fitting essential devices such as smoke detectors. The service is offered to beneficiaries who qualify for Royal British Legion assistance, which includes those who have served in the Armed Forces and their widows or dependants.
Poppy Travel: Poppy Travel is the travel arm of the Legion and specialises in visits to war cemeteries, memorials and battlefields worldwide. Destinations cover all major areas of conflict and all tours are led by an experienced and informative guide. The Royal British Legion arranges both adult and school tours as well as tours for new Army recruits. The Government War Widows Grant-in-Aid Scheme enables war widows to visit their husband's grave or memorial overseas completely free and Heroes Return 2 grants can be used for Poppy Travel tours. Visit http://www.poppytravel.org.uk/ or call 01622 716 729.
For further information on Poppy Support Services, speak to one of our Legionline representatives: 08457 725 725 (10am -4pm, Monday to Friday) or explore this website.
Contacts for Remembrance Events
Monday 2 November
Garden of Remembrance - Planting of Remembrance Crosses at St Paul's Cathedral
For information contact:
Deborah Graham-Wilson - 07786 514 266, dgwilson@britishlegion.org.uk
Wednesday 4 November
Welsh National Field of Remembrance - Planting of Remembrance Crosses at Cathay's Park, Cardiff
For information contact:
Dudley Johnson, Cardiff Office - 07971 142 002, djohnson@britishlegion.org.uk
Thursday 5 November
City of London Poppy Day
For information contact:
Elvi Morrison - 020 7840 2440, emorrison@britishlegion.org.uk
Thursday 5 November
Field of Remembrance – His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh plants a Remembrance Cross at the Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey
For information contact:
Jenny Keeling - 020 3207 2238, jkeeling@britishlegion.org.uk
Saturday 7 November
Festival of Remembrance
The Legion’s own special tribute at The Royal Albert Hall
For information contact:
Robert Lee - 020 3207 2235, rlee@britishlegion.org.uk
Sunday 8 November
Remembrance Sunday
The Cenotaph Parade, Whitehall
For information contact:
Jenny Keeling - 020 3207 2238, jkeeling@britishlegion.org.uk
Wednesday 11 November
Armistice Day - Silence in the Square – Two Minute Silence at Trafalgar Square. London and Castle Square, Swansea
For information contact:
Bethan Herbert - 020 3207 2237, bherbert@britishlegion.org.uk
Wednesday 11 November
Passing of Generation Service – Westminster Abbey
Commemorative service after the passing of the last remaining WWI survivors living in the UK during 2009
For information visit http://www.passingofthegeneration.org.uk/
Wednesday 11 November
Flanders' Field of Poppies – Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium
For information contact:
Jenny Keeling – 020 3207 2238, jkeeling@britishlegion.org.uk
Wednesday 11 November
Armstice Day Service – National Memorial Arboretum
For information contact:
Andrew Baud – 07775715775, andrew.baud@talapr.co.uk
Saturday 14 November
The Lord Mayor's Show, London
For information contact:
Lisa Burrell - 020 3207 2245, lburrell@britishlegion.org.uk
