Volunteers
It is our volunteers and supporters who
form the backbone of the Legion. Without them we would miss not
just the money they raise on our behalf, but the enthusiasm and
human touch which they bring to the work they do for us.
Any time is valuable - whether you have just an hour a week,
or a day per week. Do you have the time to help
us?
Who we need
We need people of all ages to help us in a range of
different areas, depending on your interest and also how much time
you can spare. Just an hour or two a week can make all
the difference.
There are four main areas where
we need you to help:
Poppy Appeal
Poppy Appeal Collectors
form the 'frontline' of our annual Poppy Appeal, standing on the
street corners, collecting money from passers by. Their role
is twofold: helping to raise a huge
amount towards the £60 million plus which the Legion spends
each year on its welfare work reminding the public at
large about the importance of Remembrance Poppy Appeal
Organisers co-ordinate the appeal in local areas. Their key tasks
are:
- Organising the volunteer Poppy Appeal Collectors in their
area
- Distributing collecting trays to local businesses and
keeping them stocked up
- Collecting and banking the Poppy money raised by the
Poppy Appeal collectors
Click here
to contact the Oxfordshire Coordinator for the Poppy Appeal
Volunteer Casework
Volunteer caseworkers are active in the local community
the whole year round: giving advice and
assistance in claiming state benefits providing
support through family crises such as bereavement
obtaining advice and assistance on pensions
assisting people applying for long-term residential and
nursing care and short term respite breaks providing
information on other local and national welfare
organisations supporting homeless ex-Service
people.
'I
wanted to give something back to the older generation who gave up
so much for me. Yet I now know that the charity does much more than
that: I have helped men and women, young and old, with a wide range
of concerns and needs. I really feel that being a caseworker means
that I have a positive impact on people's lives.' -
Volunteer Caseworker - Janine Woodward (ex
Oxford Student)
Hospital & Housebound Visitors
This is one
of the oldest of the Legion's schemes, and encapsulates what our
welfare network is all about - people looking out for each
other. Sometimes ex-Service men and women who are
either housebound or in hospital have no contact with the outside
world. So the couple of hours our Visitors spend with them can mean
the world.
Click here if
you are interested in becoming Caseworker or Welfare
Visitor
Fundraising Events
We organise many fundraising events throughout the year,
such as Pedal to Paris, and we're always looking for volunteers to
take part. Some of our supporters even run in the London
Marathon for us. Not only is it an opportunity for people to raise
vital funds for the Legion but is also gives them the chance to set
themselves personal challenges, and also have a lot of
fun!
One of our Oxfordshire members has secured a place on the
Freedom Trail Trek - He has done this trek before. Not bad for
someone in their 70's!
Click here to
contact Oxfordshire's Community Fundraiser
Click here to visit the
Legion's Poppy Bikes website or find out more about our fundraising
events.
