The Poppy Appeal - Who needs help

The Royal British Legion is the leading charity safeguarding the welfare, interests and memory of all those who have served in the armed forces, and their dependants. The RBL spends over £50m a year on helping the ex-service men and women and their dependants but the Poppy Appeal raise under half of this. For many people, The Royal British Legion is best known for its work assisting those who served in the two World Wars. We estimate that from World War II alone there may be over 1.4 million veterans, the youngest now in their seventies, who could call on the Legion for help. Many of them will be in great need, and the Poppy may be their only future. Since the ending of World War Two in 1945 there has only been one year when our armed forces have not suffered a fatal casualty on active service. During that time they suffered over 12000 casulaties. Our Service men and women have been called upon to serve in conflicts and peacekeeping missions such as the Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Sierra Leonne. They have also participated in numerous humanitarian operations from the Berlin Airlift to the Turkish Earthquake and the disaster in Mozambique. They are of course also serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These men and women also deserve to know that The Royal British Legion will be here to help and support them for the rest of their lives should they need it. Whatever their needs, The Royal British Legion will remember and care for our veterans. From fitting simple lifeline alarms to ensure that they feel safe in their own homes, to providing 24 hour nursing care in our own specially equipped residential homes, we will be there for them. Help us to help them.