The Poppy Appeal needs you! Volunteer shortage in Lake District

Poppy People campaign needs more than 350,000 volunteers for annual Appeal 

The Royal British Legion is urging the great British public to dedicate their spare time and join its army of volunteers during this year’s Poppy Appeal campaign.

The Legion’s Poppy People campaign – a national recruitment drive for Poppy Appeal volunteers – is calling on those in the local area to dedicate a few hours to make a huge difference to the 6.2 million members of the Armed Forces community that are eligible for help from the Legion.

Each year more than 350,000 poppy volunteers are needed across the country to raise much-needed funds to support current and former Armed Forces personnel, and their families. The Legion is looking for enthusiastic people of all ages and backgrounds to help run the Poppy Appeal in Ambleside, Grasmere, Kendal, Ulverston & Windermere and form part of its army of fundraisers.

Judith Reay, the Legion’s Community Fundraiser for Cumbria, said: “We need approximately 75 additional volunteers across the Lake District this year to ensure we raise much-needed funds. Volunteering can provide great opportunities for those involved. It allows the chance to meet new people, learn new and transferable skills and be part of a team that helps the Armed Forces community and promotes understanding of Remembrance. We’d love all who want to volunteer with us to get in contact.”

Claire Rowcliffe, Director of Fundraising, said: "The Poppy Appeal is The Royal British Legion’s main fundraising event of the year. Our volunteers are very much the lifeblood of the Poppy Appeal and contribute enormously to the charity year-round through a variety of roles.

“The best thing about being a volunteer for the Legion is that we welcome all ages and all backgrounds, people don’t have to be associated with the Armed Forces, they just need to be passionate about the cause.”

To find out more about becoming a fundraising volunteer in during this year’s Poppy Appeal, contact Community Fundraiser Judith Reay on 07917581077 or email JReay@britishlegion.org.uk

For further information on the work of The Royal British Legion visit: www.britishlegion.org.uk