Membership Grant Fund
We are delighted to announce the launch of a new Membership grant fund which aims to empower counties, districts, branches, clubs and bands to build on the amazing work that you all do in support of RBL’s charitable objectives.
The new fund will support delivery of activities in line with our 10-year strategy, which was launched last year, and will replace both the existing county grants process and ad hoc commemorative funding.
Branches and counties can bid for funding to deliver innovative and impactful activities in their communities, and counties also will be able to bid for funding to manage and train their counties. Please note that formations must be compliant to apply.
For 2026 only, there will be one grant application window, open from 16 March to 17 April, for a total grant pot of £200k. On 1 October 2026 we’ll be opening up grant applications for activities in 2027. Going forward, there will be two grant application windows every year in Autumn and Spring for an annual pot of £300k.
This new application process is designed to enable you to plan ahead for those activities supporting our strategy’s key outcomes of Connect, Remember and Support, which you play a key role in delivering.
Further information is available in the guide attached. The link to the online application form will follow in the March issue of Central News on Tuesday 3 March, and we look forward to hearing about the inspiring events happening as a result.
Should you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Legion Magazine
We have received a request from the Legion Magazine:
We are hoping to run a feature about RBL members who have no personal connection to the Armed Forces Community (i.e. have never served in the Forces and have no immediately family who serve or have served).
We are hoping to find a few (ideally three) case studies to speak to who are members and feel passionately about the RBL’s work and what they gain from membership, but have no personal link to the Armed Forces Community.
Are you able to help at all? Are you aware of any members who fit that bill, or is it possible to find out?
Do any of you have a member who would be happy to undertake this??? please speak to the individuals to check they would be happy to share their stories and contact details.
The Spitfire Girls
The Spitfire Girls is going to be showing at Cambridge Arts Theatre, between Tuesday 7th April and Saturday 11th April.
It's about the courageous women who flew spitfires in WW2. It'll be a great show to watch.
The Arts Theatre is very kindly supporting the Poppy Appeal during the performances with RBL printed on the tickets and programmes, they are also allowing a manned bucket collection at the door before each performance. (Please let me know if you would be interested in running the collection just before the performance starts) You don't have to wait while the performance is on, if you could help with the collection in the lobby for around 20 minutes before the start time of the performance that would be amazing. You could combine some volunteering with then watching the show? Please let me know if you can help.
Tickets are offered at 25% discount on all performances and price bands for Legion members and volunteers.
Please click on the blue Spitfire link below to book tickets. 🙂 and enter RBL25 for your discounted tickets.
Spitfire Girls
Branch Training
Our Learning and Development team have extended an invite to provide training within the county in areas such as branch management, Treasurer etc.
The following dates are NOT available but please let me know if there are dates outside of this that would best suit all branch officers.
· 11th & 12th April
· 17th, 18th & 19th
A couple of additional things to note:
There is no training at all in May due to 2 x bank holidays, Annual Conference and staff availability
Safeguarding & Religious Officiators
Please find below a link to a short form that we are asking all branches and, where applicable, counties / districts to complete as soon as possible.
For our records we require details of whether your formation works formally or informally with a religious officiator (e.g. chaplain or other) and, if so, we require their details.
To comply with GDPR, please obtain the individual’s permission before completing the form. If permission is not granted, please complete the form and enter ‘Permission not granted’.
The information requested is as follows:
- Name
- Contact details
- Denomination and organisation / church etc., for which they work
This information is requested so that we know who is working with our formations in this capacity. Please note that if the chaplain or other officiator changes for your formation, their details should be updated using the same form.
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions in regard to this survey, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
To complete the survey, please click the link here.
National Youth Standard Bearers (NYSB) competition 2026
The National Youth Standard Bearers (NYSB) competition for 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, 12th of April 2026 at Stockport Army Reserve Centre.
Admin Instruction
Please find attached the Admin Instruction for the National Youth Standard Bearers Competition 2026.
Key Timings
Doors Open -09.00am
Competition starts -11.00 am
Attendance
All those wishing to attend on the day are kindly requested to complete the relevant MS form using the links provided within the Admin Instruction to confirm attendance. It is essential for security reasons that everyone attending completes the Form.
If you have any local venues that would be willing to host the training sessions please let me know.
[email protected].
Membership Engagement Officer
07549454150
