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CONTACT:
The Royal British Legion, Suite A Crypton House, Bristol Road,
Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4SY
TEL: (01278) 446711 FAX: 02032072282
E-mail: dlowe@britishlegion.co.uk or lmpower@britishlegion.org.uk
Immediate Needs
The Immediate Needs Scheme is
designed to assist those facing a temporary crisis, which, after
all other possible measures have been taken, needs an emergency
injection of funds to achieve a solution. This scheme will
cover every instance of human drama and trauma and a few examples
are debts, family breaks ups, pending evictions, the effects of
hunger and cold, the sudden need to replace major household
appliances, home movement costs, physical disablement and the
consequence of mugging and theft.
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Dedicated Benefits & Money
Advice Service
The Royal British Legion and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
are funding Bristol Citizens Advise Bureau (CAB) to provide a
holistic service offering advice on benefits and money matters to
only serving and ex-service personnel, their partners and
dependants. The advisor covers Bristol and also all of the
Somerset area. Clients can either come through the County
Officer to be referred (Tel: 01278 446711) or call for an
appointment direct on: 0117 9462565.
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Electrically Powered Vehicles
(EPV's)
Many ex-service people who have increasing difficulty in walking
may find tha
t eventually they are unable to get about
independently without the aid of an electric wheelchair or
scooter. When all Health Authority and Government schemes are
unable to assist and the Mobility component of DLA cannot be used
the Legion will consider assistance. In all cases the clients
GP must sign a form stating that the client will benefit from the
vehicle and can safely use one. The Legion will often share
the cost of an EPV with other charities and this is explained to
the client when initially visited.
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Mobility Aids
The Legion can provide mobility aids where they are not
available through statutory sources, these can include rise
recliner chairs, adjustable beds, manual
wheelchairs, rollators, car hoists,
etc. All requests will need to be supported by an
Occupational Therapist report which can be arranged by the
Legion.
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Carephone Personal Alarm
Systems Scheme
The Legion will assist with the installation of a Lifeline alarm
system, which enables users to summon assistance to their home in
an emergency. A small pendant containing an alarm button may
be worn on the person so the alarm can be activated within a
reasonable distance of the unit.
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Poppy Calls
0800 032 0306
Somerset and Bristol have a dedicated and trusted team of
experienced handypersons who are fully trained to carry out
low-level but high impact maintenance in your home, such as:
changing light bulbs and tap washers;
putting up shelves, curtain rails and grab rails;
fitting smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors;
fitting and changing door locks and other security features;
building access ramps and sheds; and
installing care phones.
And much more! So give us a call - free - on 0800 032
0306.
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Veterans' Breaks
The Legion has four Homes that provide a free two-week welfare
break for veterans. In One of the homes is on the seafront in
Weston-super-Mare. 
This is not a holiday scheme and guests must be able to care for
themselves and be aware that no nursing care is available. Waiting
time is according to priority - 1. Return to work, 2. Terminal, 3.
Post or pre-hospitalisation, 4. Bereavement, 5. Long term illness
and repeat applications.
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Veteran Plus Breaks
The old 'Holiday for the Severely Disabled' is now called
Welfare Plus Breaks.
Those who cannot cope with the Veteran Break
homes due to poor mobility or the need for more care can be
considered for this break periodically.
Family Holidays
The aim is to provide a holiday away from home for the most
disadvantaged families.
We provide a Haven's holidays on a 7 night package in any of
their 7 holiday centres inclusive of all on site activities. They
have an extensive range of day time activities for all age groups
and a programme of evening entertainment.
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Childrens Adventure
Holidays
The aim of the service is to give children who are
isolated the opportunity
to build and develop confidence and
skills through group activities amongst others from similar
backgrounds, that is, parents with Service connections. Isolated
parents will also benefit with a period of respite, thus improving
quality of life.
Provided is residential adventure and activity holidays for 12 -
17 year olds at nine centres throughout England
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Property Repair Loan Scheme
The Legion is often asked for financial assistance to meet the
cost of essential repairs or adaptation of property. In many
cases the requests come from retired and disabled persons for whom
repayment of a commercial loan is beyond their means. To make
grants towards the cost of repairs bears heavily on Legion funds,
and therefore, a loan is offered at 0% APR. Those accepting a
loan have the choice of either making repayments during the life of
the loan or repaying the loan in a lump sum when the property is
sold or from the estate following death. In the case of the latter,
this will be on the death of the surviving partner.
War Pensions
The Royal British Legion has its own Pensions Department located
in London to
assist with enquiries and claims for War
Disability Pensions or War Widows Pensions. First contact
forms are available from the County Welfare Officer - (01278)
446711.
'All ex-service men and women are entitled to claim for a War
Disability Pension if they consider that their service in the Armed
Forces is related to a medical condition from which they are
currently suffering. They do not need to have served in a war
or armed conflict to be able to do this'.
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Residential Nursing Homes
The Legion owns seven care homes providing 24-hour residential
and nursing care for individuals who are unable to care for
themselves at home. 
In Somerset there is Dunkirk Memorial House which is
at Bishops Lydeard near Taunton. Application/enquiries should
be made to the homes direct on (01823) 432407.
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Hospital & Housebound Visiting
Scheme
(certain areas only)
This scheme is one of the oldest used by the Legion and
encapsulates what the Legion benevolent network is all about.
The aim is to visit those less fortunate than ourselves, from the
ex-service community who are either housebound or in hospital, to
offer the hand of friendship and companionship for a few hours each
month. Loneliness is a terrible thing and just by undertaking
visits such as these much can be done to help combat it.
Those who are housebound are often elderly and live alone receiving
few, if any visitors.
Civvy Street (Careers Advice)
Civvy Street is the Legion's dedicated office for providing
careers advice to the 
ex-service community. Advice and
assistance is given by qualified staff on all aspects of learning
and work. Funding may be available for unemployed ex-service
people, either through government sources or from a Legion grant
scheme. The aim of the Legion Grant scheme is to assist with
funding for training that will lead directly to employment.
Initial contact should be made by logging onto: www.civvystreet.org and
following the online instructions or calling 08001694073 if access
to the internet is not available.
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Remembrance Travel
The Royal Charter provides for the Legion 'to arrange for and
assist widows, widowers, and children to visit the graves of those
who have fallen in Our Service'. The Legion has been running
visits to war graves abroad since the 1920's. Remembrance
Travel is based in Aylesbury Royal British Legion Village. It
organises and arranges an annual programme of visits (pilgrimages)
to war cemeteries and memorials world-wide. Anyone can apply
to join a pilgrimage; they do not have to be a Legion member or
have a special grave to visit. In reality, all types of
relatives, veterans, students and other interested people travel on
these visits. A Government grant is available for those war
widows who have not visited their husband's grave overseas at
public expense before; it covers 7/8th of the
cost. Photographs of war graves and poppy wreath laying is
also carried on behalf of individuals as required.
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