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BUYING A POPPY REALLY HELPS—AND SHOWS YOU CARE

Buying a poppy this year not only shows members of the Armed Forces community you care, it will also help support the Royal British Legion’s work in highlighting the mental health and wellbeing of service personnel, veterans, and their families.

The annual Poppy Appeal is well supported in Claygate, as is the Remembrance Day service held in Church Road beside the war memorial, which this year takes place on Sunday November 10.

Donations have a real impact on the lives of the Armed Forces community, as the statistics show: in 2023, Admiral Nurses assisted more than 1,200 new families living with dementia; 16 per cent of grants went towards home essentials such as furniture, cookers and fridges; and 29 per cent of grants were for essentials such as food and clothing.

Grants also went to improving independence through mobility equipment and adaptations, supporting disabled veterans and family members; 10 per cent of grants helped with moves to new properties or improving current homes, with 1,100 individuals or families supported by housing related grants.

Care Homes provided support for more than 800 people, either as residents or attending day care, and a specialist Benefit, Debt and Money Advice Service supported more than 1,750 people who found themselves struggling financially.

More than 29,000 grants were given last year; case managers worked on more than 40,000 cases; and £39m was retrieved at tribunals using the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for those injured as a result of their service.

In 2023, the volume of inquiries to the Legion’s welfare team increased by 10.5 per cent and 21m poppies were distributed, thanks to the selfless volunteers, without whom the Legion could not function as it does.

Anyone who would like to assist is asked to contact either:

• Hugh Stephenson, Poppy Appeal Officer for Claygate Parish, on 07950 029130 or email hughstephenson7@outlook.com, or
• Peter Wakeham, Poppy Appeal Manager for East Surrey, on 07826 908603 or email pwakeham@britishlegion.org.uk.