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Fundraising has and always will be a vital source of income for us and more so now than ever before. Every £1 raised will help us continue into our next hundred years and to provide comradeship and welfare support for veterans across Scotland.
As a British Army combat veteran and a current veteran support worker and event security and safety lead for Legion Scotland I can see first hand the efforts being made by a small yet tireless group of individuals to support, guide and safeguard our most vulnerable veterans. In honour of the 457 UK troops who gave their all in Afghanistan I will be cycling, hiking, and pretty much crawling through August 2023 to complete 457 miles anyway I can.
I am a full time single parent and I work full time for a global defence contractor so this is no easy challenge.
Please support me by donating anything you can or joining Legion Scotland as a volunteer and supporting those who so desperately need it simply by being there long enough to have a conversation and a cup of tea.
A little more about who we are and what we do:
Since 1921 the Royal British Legion Scotland (Legion Scotland) has been providing comradeship and support for veterans are their families nationwide. As the largest membership organisation in Scotland and the custodians of Remembrance it is our privilege to deliver a range of events and support programmes that ensure we are perpetuating the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those who have left active service and require our assistance.
Our Vision: is to be a united organisation, that regularly engages with local communities throughout Scotland to provide support for the Armed Forces community.
Our Mission: is to use our membership network and partnership relationships, to continue to work efficiently and collaboratively to remember the fallen. To provide opportunities for comradeship utilising Branch meeting places and physical Club premises and to provide a Veterans Community Support Service which tackles isolation and loneliness and other issues affecting veterans and their families in Scotland.
Our Strategic Direction: is to enhance partnership working within the organisation and with external bodies to promote collaborative working. To ensure provision of befriending and welfare support, helping tackle isolation and loneliness. Free access to advice/representation on the War Disablement Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and comradeship opportunities through a comprehensive annual programme of sporting, music, commemorative and Remembrance events. To improve our membership offering and footprint throughout Scotland to ensure we are attractive to new members and known as a credible membership organisation which provides local places of comradeship and a voice for veterans.
As a support charity, focused on delivering targeted support to Veterans, Emergency Service Personnel, families, and their local communities, we rely completely on our members, sponsors and the local community to deliver these events. As a not-for-profit organisation our events are normally achieved through our volunteers and donations.
With a small staff and limited volunteer pool, we consistently deliver services, support, and events on a scale similar to much larger organisations, something we are very proud of. Our services are never at a standstill, and we are always looking for ways to improve our delivery and reach. Our membership is declining annually, and our donations are limited so as we plan ahead to 2024 and beyond, financial and volunteer support from external sponsors will be crucial to ensuring we can continue to deliver to the high standard we have become known for.
As such, we are looking for Sponsors who can support some of our key events either through financial grants and/or volunteers who would want to get involved in our work.
Key events identified are:
• Dundee Festival of Remembrance 4th November 2023 - £4,500
• Legion Scotland Carol Service 10th December 2023 - £1,500
• Sports & Comradeship events (x6) in 2024 - £6,000
• Armed Forces Day, June 2024 - £6,000
• Veterans Community Support Unforgotten Forces Pilgrimage, Sept 2024 - £10,000
• Fundraising Fortnight, June 2024 - £3,500