This year, the Royal British Legion celebrates its centenary. It was formed on May 15, 1921 which brought together four national organisations of ex-Service personnel established after the Great War of 1914-1918.
Its purpose then was to care for those who suffered as a result of service in the Armed Forces in the Great War, whether through their own service or through that of a husband, father or son.
Nowadays, in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight, with all other area offices, Legion staff have moved to home working and contacting those supported by phone, email, video calls and post, adapting in the face of COVID-19 to overcome obstacles to help those in need.
The past year has brought a drop in caseloads, but a distinct rise in the complexity of cases. The drop was due to local communities rallying around to provide support for each other, strangers reaching out to the vulnerable and in need, offering services such as collecting shopping and essentials to keep social contact and let people know they are not alone.
As fundraising methods changed during 2020, the Legion introduced new support tools, evolving to meet new needs during the COVID-19 crisis.
Many people lost jobs, putting hardship and financial strain on families. The Legion Benefits Debt and Money advice team introduced a new income maximisation service, guiding those in need through an unexpected time with their finances.
The outreach service has seen a rise in mental health-related cases, and those seeking support with health issues as people struggle with being isolated in the home. Many families who lost loved ones of all ages to COVID-19 were supported.
All 16 national regional areas worked to provide the same level of service, and improve procedures and working practices. Before March 2020, the national average waiting time for a person receiving tangible assistance from services from initial contact was 17 days; this is now 2.1 days.
The Legion was granted “Royal” status on May 29, 1971, on its 50th anniversary, when membership was extended to serving members of HM Forces. The modern RBL is the third most popular charity in the UK after Cancer Research and Macmillan Nurses.