Lest We Forget

Last year was a record year, with more than £17.3 million donated by a generous public.

County field officer, John Hardiman, who oversees the work of the Legion in Greater Manchester, says that more than 50 pc of the Legion's total funds are donated during Poppy Week.

"Financially the administration costs of the Royal British Legion are funded from members' subscriptions. The actual poppy appeal costs are very low and the vast majority of money donated goes towards benevolence."

The work of the Legion is vast and varied. As people live longer, the number of elderly people it is responsible for has increased dramatically.

As Mr Hardiman explains: "There are a lot of Second World War veterans in their 70s out there. In Greater Manchester it's estimated that there are more than 600,000 people who are entitled to call on the British Legion for help."

That's a quarter of the total population of Greater Manchester who can theoretically approach the Legion -- a tall order in anyone's books.

To be entitled for help from the Legion you need to have received at least seven days' pay for serving the Crown as a member of the armed services.

That includes anyone in the Territorial Army, or reserve services.

The work that the Legion carries out in the community ranges from providing holidays for those with severe disabilities, one-off payments to those in need, and countless visits by its team of volunteers to the long term sick and housebound.

One of the main areas of work is helping people through the minefield of paperwork necessary to claim benefits, and war pensions.

"We also help people who have fallen on hard times. For instance you might have an OAP living on a pension, and the fridge or the oven goes. These are essential items and if the person is unable to replace this item then we might issue a cash grant for exceptional financial hardship."

Last year alone the Legion represented 10,300 people at pension tribunals.

Although the Legion works mainly with older people, it is there to help younger people as well.

At the moment the Legion is supporting a young single mum through her studies at Salford University, and has helped find accommodation for a serviceman who was discharged from the Army suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

The Legion will also pay out cash grants to people who are starting up small businesses.

"The money raised during Poppy Week is vital for providing the funds so we can do the work in the community," stresses Mr Hardiman.

Money to carry out the Legion's work comes from a variety of sources, including corporate sponsors. Anyone interested in finding out more about corporate sponsorship should ring Mr Hardiman on 0161 448 2521. Richard's new life on civvy street RICHARD Ridings, 26, from Little Lever, found the help that the Legion gave him, invaluable.

In June 1996, after serving five years in the Royal Navy as a marine engineer, he found that his navy orientated qualifications were basically worthless on 'civvy' street.

If he didn't want to end up in a dead end job, he would need retraining. But the college fees, which were more than £1,000, were beyond his means.

He says that it didn't occur to him to approach the Royal British Legion. "I thought that they bought wheelchairs for veterans and things like that. I didn't for a minute think they could help me in my situation."

It was only when an elderly neighbour mentioned the Legion that Richard decided to get in touch.

"They were brilliant and sorted it all out. "

For 12 months he attended college on a part-time basis and supported himself with part-time work. The rest was covered by the Royal British Legion.

Richard is now employed as a maintenance engineer for a engineering firm based at the Norweb offices in Manchester Road.

And it's all thanks to the British Legion.

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