17 December 2013

Based on Williamson Street, it is the first of 16 brand new centres that the Legion will open in major cities across the UK, as part of its biggest ever transformation to bring its work closer to the Armed Forces community. Each centre will offer a welcoming space for Service personnel and veterans to get practical help and advice, and for members of the public to find out more about the wide range of services and community activities provided by the Legion.

The Legion has also made office space available to partner charities Combat Stress and RFEA. Through this collaborative approach the aim is to provide a more seamless beneficiary service.

To coincide with the opening, the Legion also announced a new national Freephone helpline number, 0808 802 8080, which will allow people to get help and support from a trained adviser over the phone, as well as the launch of a new online information service via its website.

During the event, the Minister met current and former Service personnel, Legion beneficiaries, staff, members and volunteers. He was also introduced to local dignitaries, welfare service providers and other partner Service charities from across the Merseyside and Cheshire area, before being invited by the Legion's National Chairman, John Crisford, to cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the Centre.

Mr Francois said, "This is an area with a very strong Service tradition and currently over half a million veterans live in and around this region, so the demand for this service is not in question.

"The Legion does a remarkable job and offers tangible proof of what can be achieved when communities work together. The Royal British Legion has become an effective first point of contact by making its services more immediately accessible and is working alongside other welfare service providers and Armed Forces charities in the best interests of the Armed Forces community. The range of practical advice and support available through this new facility is extremely impressive."

Gillian McKinnon, the Legion's Manager for Cheshire and Merseyside, added: "Both nationally and locally, the Legion recognises that the profile of our beneficiaries is constantly changing and that we must continue to improve our services to reflect that need.

"Being able to pick up a phone to a trained adviser via our new brand new national Freephone number, also launched from today, looking online for information or coming along to an office like this where they can talk face to face represents major progress.

"My team is totally committed to providing the best possible service for the Service community, past and present, in Cheshire and Merseyside. From today it will be easier than ever before for people to find the help and support they need so if you want to know more, please do 'Pop In'."

 A video of the opening can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Notes to Editors:

• As the nation's leading Armed Forces charity, The Royal British Legion spends £1.6 million a week, or £84 million a year on vital welfare work, providing social, emotional and financial care and support to serving and ex-Service people and their families.
• The Legion is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy.
• The Legion's new 'Pop In' Advice and Information Centre to serve the Cheshire & Merseyside area is based at 25-31 Williamson Street, Liverpool L1 1EB. Its normal hours of opening will be Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.
• The further 15 Legion 'Pop In' Advice and Information Centres will open during 2014. The location of these will be as follows:

Further details and timings will be announced in 2014.