Volunteering FAQs

RBL welcomes applications to volunteer with us from everyone. You don’t have to have served in or have had any involvement with or knowledge of the military and you don’t have to be a member of the Royal British Legion either.

If specific skills or experience is required for a role it will be detailed in the role description but there are a many roles that allow for you to gain understanding as you carry them out.

Check our volunteer role descriptions for minimum age requirements. We encourage youth, cadet and community groups to volunteer with us, particularly supporting fundraising and event activities.

Depending on the role you would like to do, having a criminal record is not a barrier to volunteering with us. Please do contact us to discuss further.

The Royal British Legion has many different volunteer roles throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For more information on volunteering in Scotland please go to Poppyscotland volunteer site.

If you are within travelling distance of the National Memorial Arboretum you can find out more on their website.

If you are interested in supporting RBL overseas, you can get in touch with a local branch via the Overseas branches page.

Yes! We very much welcome volunteers that have received help and support from RBL.

We may, however, ask that you wait until your case is closed before you start volunteering (although you can start your registration process).

Your time will help provide better outcomes for those that we support whether that’s helping with fundraising through to being a friendly, welcome to someone coming in contact with us for the first time.

Volunteering with us offers the opportunity to both learn and share knowledge and experience, make new friends, support local and national communities and be part of a great team.

We do like to find out a bit more about you, explain about what RBL does and how you will help as well as provide expectations, training and briefings (depending on the role) before you can start volunteering.

Particularly if the role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references and completion of training it can be up to three months before you can start your volunteering.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Poppy Appeal in November, please register no later than 30th September as this a popular time for volunteering with us and also very busy.

Yes, although it can be dependent on the role that you would like to carry out.

We welcome all offers of time, including if you only want to volunteer at certain times of the year, and will try to match you to a suitable role.

As well as offering volunteering opportunities you can also become a member of the Royal British Legion, joining one of local or national branches where you can also give your time to support.

Yes. We welcome groups interested in volunteering, particularly groups able to support with Fundraising and Events.

If you are interested in volunteering as a corporate partner complete this registration form.

At the Royal British Legion, we don’t want anyone to be out of pocket when volunteering for us. Reasonable expenses that are evidenced with receipts and are within our guidelines will be reimbursed.

The Royal British Legion has both Public and Employers Liability insurance covering all official volunteer activity conducted on behalf of RBL.

Regarding volunteering and the impact of coronavirus, we continuously monitor the situation, following government guidelines to adapt how we work and how volunteers give their time appropriately ensuring that everything is done to keep volunteers, staff and the wider public safe.

Yes, the RBL volunteer agreement helps set out the mutual expectations and undertakings of both volunteers and the Royal British Legion.

Yes, the RBL volunteering policy underpins the processes, procedures and guidance supporting the framework for volunteering with the Royal British Legion.