Cheshire East Council has given a £43,000 boost to veterans’ charity’s drive to help tackle social isolation.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) has been given money under the local authority’s Give Back community grant scheme.
The RBL has earmarked £25,000 of the grant for welfare support to local armed forces personnel and their dependants, both past and present, who are aged 55 or over.
The remaining £18,000 will be used for volunteer recruitment, training and support as well as for purchasing much-needed equipment to deliver these services locally.
Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “This Council is very pleased to be able to give this significant grant to help the Royal British Legion’s important work tackling the problem of social isolation among veterans of our armed forces.
“Servicemen and service women have put their lives on the line for their country time and time again over the past 100 years since the Great War began – and it is only right that they are given necessary help and support once they are back in civilian life.”
Gillian McKinnon, RBL area manager for Cheshire and Merseyside, said of the Council grant: “This is really great news and a fantastic boost for the area. We are really eager to start delivering these services locally but we will need more local people to get involved. We simply cannot do it without the help and support of volunteers.”
Phil Reade, chairman of the Royal British Legion Cheshire committee, said: “I am delighted and would like to thank Cheshire East Council for giving us this opportunity. As well as volunteers, we are also looking for fresh new members to join the committee or your local branch. Together we can make a difference.”
If you have ever served in the armed forces and would like to find out about what the RBL does and the support it provides, please get in touch with its offices. If someone you know has links to the armed forces and is socially isolated in any way, please pass on RBL’s contact details:
If you’d like to find out more about RBL volunteering opportunities, please contact Jane at C&M@britishlegion.org.uk or call the RBL on 0808 802 8080.
For more information about RBL visit their website at: www.britishlegion.org.uk
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