Launch of local Royal British Legion “TEAM 85”
December 19th, 2012
The award winning Stoke Gifford Branch of the Royal British Legion is celebrating its 85th year with the launch of its “Team 85” – a major fund raising drive for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal / Welfare Fund.
The branch is only seven (7) years younger than the RBL nationally which was founded in 1921. The Stoke Gifford Branch covers Bradley Stoke, Filton, Little Stoke and Stoke Gifford. The branch has been raising branch record amounts for the Poppy Appeal in recent years. For 2010/11 it raised £30,500, and in 2011/12 it broke even that record with £37,500. In 2010/11 it won the RBL Gloucestershire County Marling Cup for most improved branch, and 3rd place in the Williams Cup for increasing it’s poppy appeal total by 27.88%.
Branch Poppy Appeal Organiser John Moloney has set a target for the 2012/13 year, (running from the 1st October 2012 to 30th September 2013), for the branch to raise £40,000. This is a big challenge in these tough financial times.
The Branch is planning fundraising activities to help boost its fundraising, including a Band Concert in February and organising other fundraising events and activities and attending other events to do fundraising.
The Branch is keen to develop its links with youth organisations, including Uniformed Groups.
New Branch Chairman Hilary Bloor said:- “In line with TeamGB’s approach to winning gold medals in the Olympics, Stoke Gifford RBL branch have adopted the logo of Team85 to promote their branch which was formed in 1928, with the goal of raising £40K in their 85th year. This not only encompasses the collection during the Poppy fortnight, but includes all fund raising activities throughout the year.”
Branch spokesman David Bell said – “This is an exciting time for the branch and we look forward to rising to the challenge of raising more money for the Poppy Appeal. The community – the public, the media, our volunteers and the many venues that we work with are very supportive of the Royal British Legion and we are very grateful for that support.”
Chair of Welfare Terry Webber said “The Poppy Appeal will bring us the vital cash we need to help ex service personnel and their families, and current members of the services, to provide the help they require. The welfare work and the need are growing. “
The Stoke Gifford branch have a strong team of five welfare workers who carry out casework over a wide area. Nationally the RBL distributes £1.7 million of help per week to current and ex-service personnel and their families.
The Royal British Legion is also responsible for National Remembrance which includes the Remembrance Sunday events at The Cenotaph in London, and numerous services around the country.
IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MAY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE RBL PLEASE CONTACT TERRY WEBBER – WELFARE CHAIRMAN ON – 0117 9091486.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE LEGION PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BRANCH, OR STOKE GIFFORD BRANCH PRESIDENT BRIAN HEWITT, MBE, ON – 01454 775632.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE LEGION PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BRANCH OR THE STOKE GIFFORD BRANCH POPPY APPEAL ORGANISER JOHN MOLLONEY – 07802535591.