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| Stephen Metcalfe with new Area Manager, Kate Williams |
The Legion is the leading provider of welfare for the Armed Forces community in South Essex and this week local MP Stephen Metcalfe attended an event in Parliament dedicated to seeing some of the Legion’s work in his area. Stephen used the opportunity to discuss with Miss Williams the changing face of Armed Forces welfare provision in the local community, and learn more about the Legion’s work developing Community Covenants locally.
The Royal British Legion provides care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families. That care and support can come in many forms, whether it be direct financial aid; benefits and money advice; adventure holidays in the UK for Armed Forces families who need a break; or helping an elderly or disabled veteran with a trusted handyman facility to help with odd-jobs in the home. These are just some of the many, many services the Legion offers as way of support to the Armed Forces community.
In 2011, the Legion spent £90 million nationally on its health and welfare delivery work. In addition it has committed £50 million over ten years to support the Ministry of Defence’s programme of recovery for wounded, sick and injured Armed Forces personnel. £30 million of this is committed to the Battle Back Centre (Lilleshall) and £20 million will go towards five Personnel Recovery Centres, four in the UK and one in Germany.
Miss Williams, the Legion’s Area Manager, said, “It was great to see Stephen; we really appreciated him making the time to drop in. Many people don’t realise that we spend nearly £1.7 million a week on helping both the Serving and ex-Service communities, plus their families, so we were delighted to tell Stephen about the range of services we provide. We help everyone from a child of a serving family needing an adventure break to a young entrepreneur needing advice and assistance to be his own boss.”
Stephen Metcalfe MP said, “I was really pleased to meet my new local Area Manager. Kate made it clear that the Legion’s work does not stop on 11th November. Providing assistance for members and former members of the Armed Forces who have been injured, or are struggling in any other way, is a 365-day-a-year job. It is vital that we as a nation honour the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces, and I’m proud to support the work of The Royal British Legion.”
