Jersey Poppy Appeal raises £190,000 for local service men and women

Sunday 03 December 2017

This year's Jersey's Poppy Appeal has raised £190,000, a £30,000 increase on last year's amount, which the Royal British Legion Jersey described as "incredible."

The money will be used to look after and support local servicemen and women and their dependants who require medical, emotional or financial assistance.

This year the Royal British Legion launched a new campaign, appealing to those who have served or who are serving in the British Forces, as well as their dependants, to come forward if they need support. There are up to 5,000 serving service personnel, veterans and their dependants living in our community. Many are facing everyday battles and the Royal British Legion has access to a range of resources to support people emotionally and financially.

The campaign benefited from the support of the Central Market, De Gruchy’s, the Chelsea Pensioners and the Jersey Reds, as well as the parish coffee mornings, the team who knitted poppies, the hard working volunteers at the Poppy Shop, those who sold poppies house to house and at static point collections and from those who helped at the poppy depot.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Daniels, Chairman of The Royal British Legion (Jersey Branch) said: “On behalf of the President, the committee and all members of the Royal British Legion on the island, I would like to convey our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the community of Jersey for their incredible generosity, to our team of dedicated volunteers for all their hard work and to Freedom Media for designing and managing the campaign. The money raised will be used to make a real difference in people’s lives. We have the resources available if people need support, please do come forward, confidentially.”

There were nine different ‘faces,' all veterans of various ages, featured in the 2017 campaign on banners, on a Liberty Bus, posters, flyers, the new RBL website and on social media. His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB BSc FRAeS who is the Patron of The Royal British Legion was one of those ‘faces’ and he recorded a special message, speaking directly to all veterans and their loved ones.

He said: “Many people came back from campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan very changed from the way that they went. Many have needed very specialist help. I have seen the way in which The Royal British Legion and other charities can help those people to regain life and the value of life.”

“People who have served in the Armed Forces are used to being self dependent and capable of dealing with what comes. Many find it really difficult to ask for help, but when they know that support is there, it can be life changing. The Royal British Legion is there to help and support them. The important thing is to get that help. It is not a weakness; it is something that you deserve.“