Warblings first issue of 2018

FIRST ISSUE OF 2018

RBLI.CO.UK

NEW

SCOTLAND’S

APARTMENTS

MANUFACTURING

VETERANS OPENING

BRAVEST

COMPANY

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WELCOME

CONTENTS

Royal British Legion Industries

@RBLI

Royal British Legion Industries

This past year – 2017 – has been one of immense collaboration for RBLI. Not a single month has gone by which hasn’t seen our charity join forces with another organisation from the military charity community, public or private sectors, with the common aim of helping those who need it.

As a charity, we have seen the birth of our Centenary Village project – kick-started by the September opening of 24 apartments in Aylesford, specifically designed for wounded, injured or sick veterans and those at risk of homelessness. You will read in this issue how this was only possible due to the strong, on-going ties we hold with fellow military charities and organisations.

Following an award from the Government’s Education and Skills Agency, RBLI will now deliver educational skills training to adults across Kent and Sussex – this comes after a streak of contract securements for RBLI’s employment and skills division including the delivery of the Department for Work and Pension’s Access to Work programme nationally.

Equally, our social enterprise Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company has also broken new ground having established further significant trading relationships with large-scale private and public organisations. This, I believe, only goes to highlight the continuing change towards more socially-valuable business choices, whereby disadvantage individuals can benefit greatly. This is something which can only be encouraged.

NEW APARTMENTS OPENING EVENT

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LLOYD’S PATRIOTIC FUND

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GRANDADS OF THE ATLANTIC

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CONFIDENT IN DISABILITY

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CAREER GUIDANCE APP EVALUATED

RBLI BUILDS ON EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS

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VETERAN TACKLES EVEREST

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EXPANDING OUR CARE

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RBLI VILLAGE PLAYGROUND OPENING

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LAUNCH OF SCOTLAND’S BRAVEST

This coming year promises more of the same. In collaborating with military charity Erskine, we will we see the launch of our new social enterprise, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, near Glasgow. Both RBLI and Erskine see this development as a tremendous step forward in the employment opportunities available to Scottish veterans. This project sees us forming new relationships across all sectors in Scotland – a venture we are very much enjoying.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY

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COMMEMORATE THOSE LOST

However, despite the successes of last year, and the planned successes of this year, we must recognise that many issues still remain for some of our Armed Forces veterans who struggle to transition to the civilian world. There requires a dedication from us all to battle those issues. This is something I am immensely proud to say the RBLI team and our friends across the sectors have in abundance.

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FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE

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THANK YOU TO OUR VISITORS

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WHY VOLUNTEER AT RBLI

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HELPING VETERANS THROUGH PAID WORK EXPERIENCE

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FROM MILITARY TO MOTIVATION

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EVENTS CALENDAR

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RBLI’S WALL OF HONOUR

This fervent dedication to improving lives every day means every member of the RBLI team begins the day with an eagerness to do our very best to help those who need it, before ending the day with a sense of accomplishment having done so.

As always, I welcome letters from individuals who believe they may benefit from our work, and also from those who already have, so please do not hesitate to write to me at RBLI, Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7NL or contact us through social media: find us on Facebook as Royal British Legion Industries and via twitter @RBLI.

Steve Sherry CMG OBE Chief Executive 2

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NEW APARTMENTS OPENING EVENT Opened in September by the then Secretary of State for Defence, our new 24 apartments designed specifically for wounded, injured or sick veterans – or those at risk of homelessness – have since become a home for a group of ex-service personnel and their families who were in desperate need of help.

Garden Designer Jo Thompson stands alongside Qatari Diar Development Director (right) Warwick Hunter with RBLI resident John Ahben and Tracey Crouch MP.

for wounded, injured and sick service personnel, both serving and veterans – the apartments are the first phase in the charity’s initial plans to build a Centenary Village which we aim to start in 2019 – our centenary year.

Chelsea Flower Show garden, created by renowned designer Jo Thompson.

It has been kindly donated by the Chelsea Barracks Foundation, who also funded the training of two horticulturists who both now live and work on RBLI’s village.

The apartments, which were funded by the Government through the LIBOR Fund, and four corporate donors, including the Morrisons Foundation, were officially opened at a grand event in September with more than 250 attendees.

Future plans include the construction of further accommodation, including three and four bedroom houses to ensure service families have a stable home, an assisted living scheme to offer help to more injured and disabled veterans, and a state-ofthe-art community centre which will offer welfare, support and training.

The Morrisons Foundation, a charity set up by the supermarket giant, made a donation to furnish the apartments with specially adapted equipment for veterans who have serious injuries.

Situated on Hermitage Lane near Maidstone, the apartments host 24 one and two-bed flats, all with special adaptations to make the lives of those with disabilities easier.

Donors include The LIBOR Fund from the Government, The Morrisons Foundation, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Chelsea Barracks, and Garfield Weston Foundation.

Named Victory House and Invictus Games House – the latter after the international sporting event

The two apartment blocks, which were designed by Clague Architects, surround a gold-medal winning

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suitable accommodation to meet their needs, and deserve the very best support to help them after their service.

“They need a place to come which they can call their home.

This village will do just that for almost 100 brave service men and women.”

With tailored support for each individual, our current village offers care facilities, housing for families and accommodation for veterans and their dependants.

Steve Sherry said: “We have existed for almost a century. In that time, through the collaborative efforts of the military charity community, we have helped thousands of veterans and their families secure employment and housing to stabilise their lives following their transition to civilian life after service.

friends in the military charity sector with whom we do all we can to help our brave servicemen and women on their return to civilian life.

“This could not have been achieved without the ethos we share with our

“However, the job is not done. It is crucial that we do not forget that

David Potts, CEO of Morrisons meeting our veterans living in the new apartments.

more remain in need of assistance UK wide and that is why we are so eager to make this project happen.

“Veterans, particularly those who are faced with great difficulties due to disabilities, are in need of 5

GRANDADS OF THE ATLANTIC Two veterans, dubbed the ‘Grandads of the Atlantic’, are to become the oldest duo ever to row across the great ocean as part of a charity fundraising campaign.

Former paratroopers Neil Young and Peter Ketley, who will have a combined age of 123 at the time of their 3,000-mile nautical challenge next December, will spend 50 days at sea despite having no previous rowing experience.

The friends of more than 40 years, whose service spans tours of Northern Ireland and The Falklands, are aiming to raise £250,000 for worthy causes, including Royal British Legion Industries.

LLOYD’S PATRIOTIC FUND In September, residents in RBLI’s Aylesford village were given an opportunity to gain paid work experience, training and new skills following a generous donation from the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund.

Established by insurance company Lloyd’s, the fund has been providing support to the Armed Forces Community for more than two hundred years and was first established after the Napoleonic Wars.

They have provided a bursary for 10 ex-service personnel who live on the village to undertake work 6

experience placements, gain formal training and do volunteering at Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company and in other areas across RBLI. The aim is to help ex-service personnel build the skills and work history required to move into fulltime, paid employment, and regain the sense of independence which is often lost when faced with difficulties during a transition to ‘Civvy Street’.

Peter, 61, said: “We both know colleagues who have sustained terrible injuries in combat and had their lives changed forever. We feel lucky that we are both still fit and healthy enough to take on his challenge and so we want to give something back by helping others who may not have had the same opportunities.”

The pair, who will row for 24 hours a day in two hour, shifts, have received glowing endorsements from high-profile dignitaries including retired Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson.

“I have no doubt they will succeed against any odds and I will be supporting them all the way.“ We believe that what Peter and Neil are doing is a testament to the commitment and drive of both serving and former service personnel, who have in them engrained the mentality to take on extraordinarily difficult challenges and beat them.

We are immensely proud that they have decided that RBLI as one of their chosen charities for whom to fundraise.

The money raised will go directly to helping veterans receive the support they need to find sustainable employment and get their lives back on track – whether that is through our social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company; our transformative employment support programme for service leavers, LifeWorks; or through the accommodation we have available in our Aylesford village.

The Grandads are currently fundraising for specialist equipment, clothing and rations. All proceeds after their costs will be donated to RBLI, Dreams Come True and Support Our Paras. To donate to the cause, visit: grandadsoftheatlantic.com/donate

General Sir Mike Jackson said:”These two airborne warriors served with me as young men and I am delighted to see that age hasn’t mellowed their determined spirit” 7

CAREER GUIDANCE APP EVALUATED RBLI’s innovative vocational app Games of Zones has shown significant progress after being evaluated by PhD candidates at the University of Kent.

The game, which was first developed in 2014, sees users complete a number of interactive games on a tablet, phone or computer before a complex algorithm determines their ideal career paths based on their interests and skill sets.

Having now been tested by more than 1,000 users, the app was promoted at VocTech Showcase on November 2nd 2017. The event was held by Ufi Charitable Trust, who were instrumental in the game’s potential, contributing more than £32,000 to its development.

Each of the users who tested the game said it helped them in their job search, and said the results helped to increase their motivation or provided them with clarity of direction for the future.

CONFIDENT IN DISABILITY Royal British Legion Industries is now a Disability Confident Leader after climbing to the third and most prestigious level of a governmental scheme set up to help disabled people into sustained and rewarding employment.

The scheme is designed to help organisations, businesses and charities recruit and retain disabled people and people with health conditions for their skills and talent.

Speaking on the Gov.uk website, the then Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work Penny Mordaunt MP said: “The Disability Confident scheme will help you on your journey to employing, supporting and promoting disabled people in your workplace. You will gain insight into an often overlooked customer base and you will learn to think differently 8

about what disability means – both for you and for your business.

“There is no greater catalyst for change than business.”

Royal British Legion Industries‘ commitment to helping people with disabilities find sustainable work is found across all areas of the organisations. RBLI’s transformative employment support programme designed specifically for veterans, L i f e Wo r k s , e n a b l e s 8 3 % o f participants to find employment, training or volunteering positions within 12 months. However, this is particularly impressive when considering that 80% of the exservice personnel have either a physical or mental disability.

Equally, RBLI’s social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, which employs more

than 100 people, has a passionate commitment to social value – 70% of the BBMC team is either a former member of the Armed Forces or has some form of disability or health condition.

RBLI’s employment division is also now the primary contractor of the government’s Access to Work programme across the whole of England, Scotland and Wales, providing specialised work-place assessments enabling people with disabilities to secure employment.

This devotion to ensuring that disabled people have equal opportunities to find a path in life lies at the very core of RBLI, and the charity is immensely proud to have achieved this accolade.

RBLI’s in-house occupational psychologist Sharon Patmore, who has more than 20 years’ experience developing employment support programmes, and

who pioneered the concept behind the app, said: “The validation by the University of Kent indicates that Game of Zones has the potential to become a catalyst to encourage people who are out of work to take tangible positive steps to achieving not only employment, but employment which is directly suited to them.

“The app is phenomenally versatile and is applicable to those who are looking to return to work after a short absence, the long-term unemployed and those looking to determine or change their career path.”

Chief executive of the Ufi Charitable Trust, Rebecca Garrod-Waters said: “At Ufi, our aim is to help improve vocational skills in the UK’s workforce by funding digital solutions for vocational learning. We only fund activity that is ‘scalable’ through technology, and Game of Zones is a perfect example of a project which has fantastic potential for this. I am looking forward to seeing it develop even further and make a difference to people across the UK.”

RBLI BUILDS ON EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS In a recent contract award, RBLI has received approval from the Secretary of State for Education to deliver a varied programme of skills training to adults living in the two counties. The programme will see our team of tutors, assessors, job coaches and advisors help adults gain the skills they need to move into their desired work industry including retail, construction and customer service.

In Kent, there are over 60,000 people of working age with no qualifications, while in Sussex there are nearly 25,000. A lack of qualifications or a low level of skills may cause unemployment directly, but they can also lead to a sequence of insecure jobs and impede career progression.

RBLI has been delivering support to people who are unemployed with a specific focus on people with disabilities for many years. However, over recent years we have make consistent strides towards expanding this area of our charity significantly.

We were successful in winning funding from the European Social Fund, the Big Lottery and the Department of Work and Pensions enabling them to deliver a number of programmes to help people

improve their health and wellbeing and move into work. In April we also gained a nationwide contract to deliver DWP’s Access to Work programme which helps disabled people maintain employment by providing them with assistive technology and other support.

Steve Woodward, Director of RBLI’s Employment and Skills division, said: “I am very proud that RBLI has been chosen to deliver this skills training. It further demonstrates that RBLI is becoming known as an expert not just in the welfare-to-work market but also a trusted partner in the skills sector and a charity who can be depended on to deliver to exceptionally high standards.

“There are many people in Kent, and indeed across the country, who are in need of support to gain vital skills which will help them to move into sustainable, relevant employment. We strongly believe that the right work is good for you, and are passionate about improving lives by helping people into work. We are therefore delighted to have gained this funding so we are able to further expand the support we can offer to those in need.”

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“There were times when I thought that I would have to quit because my headaches were so bad, but fortunately once I rehydrated I felt well enough to carry on.”

Prior to his brave venture, Anil recognised the difficulty in the challenge ahead, and the mental and physical obstacles that would lay in his way. However, his unwavering drive to succeed, just as he showed in his two Invictus Games appearances – from which he left with gold and silver medals – kept him going.

“What kept me battling was knowing that the money I was raising is going to help veterans like me who may struggle to find employment without the help of Royal British Legion Industries,” he added.

“The charity has done so much for me, so it felt great to reach the top and hold out the flag with Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company on it.”

VETERAN TACKLES EVEREST A disabled war veteran was given a hero’s welcome when returning to RBLI after he battled through intense altitude sickness to climb to Mount Everest Base Camp, raising more than £11,000 in the process.

Former Gurkha Anil Gurung, who lost his right leg after he stepped on an IED during a tour of Afghanistan in 2009, reached the dizzying height of 17,600 feet with 18 others climbers.

However, the 30-year-old, originally from Nepal and now living in Maidstone, Kent, started the ten-day trek with a group of almost 30 – many of whom had to descend rapidly as a result of altitude sickness.

Anil, who works in the factory of our social enterprise 10

Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company – which employs more than 100 people, 70% of whom are veterans, have a disability or both – said: “It was definitely the most difficult thing I have ever done – it was physically and mentally draining.

“I have never been up to that altitude before and it really had an effect on my body – the higher I climbed, the slower I became and it completely ruined my appetite.”

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is caused by acute exposure to low amounts of oxygen, causing headaches, nausea and vomiting, and shortness of breath.

BBMC Operations Manager David Church said: “Having competed twice in the Invictus Games, winning medals, Anil has always been an inspiration to RBLI and the BBMC team. He is a testament to the determination found only in the British Armed Forces.

“The money he has raised through his bravery will go directly to helping other people like himself, who may have fallen on hard times, but who also have potential to do tremendous things.”

D a n P a i n t e r, O p e n C h a l l e n g e Development Manager at Discover Adventure, who helped organise Anil’s trek said: “I managed to speak to the doctor who was on the challenge with Anil. He said Anil never let his disability affect his determination or capability to reach Everest Base Camp – he was an inspiring model for the group.”

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RBLI VILLAGE PLAYGROUND OPENING Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch was amongst the parents as a representative from Kent County Council officially declared Royal British Legion Industries’ specially-designed children’s play area open in August.

‘The Summit’, so called for being situated outside RBLI’s community hub and café Base Camp on the charity’s Aylesford village, cost almost £50,000 and has a military theme with large poppies on display.

Those who donated to the project include the Armed Forces Covenant fund, Tesco Bags of Help, Golding Homes, Aylesford Parish Council and Base Camp customers.

EXPANDING OUR CARE Royal British Legion Industries’ Aylesford village has evolved rapidly since its beginning in 1919. Within this time, we have seen the establishment of our assisted-living home Queen Elizabeth Court, our supported accommodation, Mountbatten Pavilion, which provides short term stays for ex forces personnel, and our wide range of housing for veterans – most recently our 24 apartments designed for those who are wounded, injured or sick.

However, one of our proudest achievements to date is the establishment of our high-dependency home Gavin Astor House which for more than 25 years has been called home by more than 2,000 vulnerable men and women, many of whom have an Armed Forces connection.

Following the kind support of the Government’s LIBOR Fund, we are pleased to announce that the 50-bed care home is to undergo a phenomenal transformation which will see a 12-bedroom expansion and the construction of an attached Day Care Centre .

The extra care suites will offer a greater flexibility of living, in the purpose-built accommodation that is supported by on-site nursing and care staff working 24 hours-a-day to provide superlative care and support as and when is needed.

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These suites will bring with them a much-needed sense of security, an ease of access and enable all staff to offer a personalised care to the residents with the primary goal of improving their quality of life.

This development, coupled with the new Day Care Centre, which will offer a programme of activities designed to promote wellbeing through health and welfare support, social activities and nutritious meals, making certain that each of the residents live in a place they are proud to call their home.

Minister for Sport and Civil Society Tracey, brought her then 18-month-old son Freddie to enjoy the village’s latest attraction. She said: “This is a fantastic investment into the local community and it is wonderful to see children a key part of RBLI village life.

“With Base Camp café located next door, this is an ideal location for parents to bring their children to play and be able to enjoy a coffee themselves.”

Base Camp now averages almost 1,500 visitors per month, many of whom come from the local Aylesford, New Hythe, Ditton and Eccles villages.

Kent County Council Vice-Chairman Mike Angell, who

cut the ribbon, said: “I think it is obvious to everyone who either lives in or comes to visit this village, which has become a significant local area in the heart of Kent, that there is a real feeling of community here.

“But it’s not just the village residents who benefit from the services. We currently stand here outside Base Camp, the community café first opened in 2015

by Tracey Crouch.

“Local support groups including Cogs dementia group, Mind, Combat Stress, and a mums and toddlers group all utilise the rooms of Base Camp which are free for hire.”

“It is because of this that RBLI’s recent village developments are clearly not only about supporting the local community but also giving them a space to find support in each other.”

Director of RBLI Living, James Rudoni, said: “Although RBLI is a charity which delivers numerous services on the national scale, we also want to show our appreciation of the Kent community in and around our Aylesford village.

“RBLI has developed a strong relationship with the surrounding residents since establishing this village almost 100 years ago and that is something we only want more of.”

We aim only to deliver outstanding services to the residents on RBLI’s village, and this development will only go to cement that.

The development of GAH will support our unique STEP-IN programme through which we strive to ensure that, regardless of someone’s individual situation or challenges, we move them on a positive and upward journey towards greater independence.

We thank the Government for their support in this project, and they can share with us the sense of pride we feel knowing we will help 150 more families every single year as a result of the expansion.

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LAUNCH OF SCOTLAND’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY Royal British Legion Industries is pleased to announce that Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC), the largest employment development specifically for Scottish veterans in decades, will open at veterans’ charity Erskine’s headquarters next June.

Renfrewshire-based social enterprise SBMC is projected to help more than 40 of the country’s brave exservicemen and women every year through direct, flexible employment – whilst also offering vital, tailored, wrap-around welfare support and accommodation in collaboration with Erskine.

The development is a direct response to a 2015 study into the employment support needs of Scottish veterans, which found that ex-service personnel in the country are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as civilians across the rest of the UK. SBMC will offer opportunities ranging from short to long-term, part-time and full-time roles – all of which will be tailored to the specific needs of each veteran, many of whom will face significant challenges due to life-changing physical or mental disabilities as a result of service.

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As a not-for profit enterprise, it will immediately reinvest 100% of its surplus back into the company, offering greater opportunities to Scottish veterans and ensuring that the factory has state-of-the-art industrial equipment in order to compete with other manufacturers.

“I am very much looking forward to establishing connections with partners and businesses around Scotland, whereby together we can not only produce high-quality products but also provide a much needed service to Scottish veterans.”

The factory will produce rail and road signs, and provide print & mail and fulfilment services, and deliver

Michelle is highly regarded across both the private and third sector, so we are incredibly pleased to welcome her into this new role.

Erskine, which is currently extending the services it provides, is planning to support those veterans employed by SBMC by providing access to community social facilities and accommodation adjacent to the factory on their estate at Bishopton.

Her insight, experience and understanding, both of the Scottish social enterprise industry and the rest of third sector, will ensure that SBMC becomes an established industry leader, offering a lifeline to veterans who desperately need it.

Incoming SBMC director, Michelle Ferguson, who moved into the post in January previous’ organisation was twice recognised as finalists in the Scottish Social Enterprise Awards under her stewardship.

We know from extensive stakeholder engagement that there is an immense hunger within the military communities of Glasgow and the surrounding areas for skill-based employability initiatives for veterans.

Michelle, who grew up in nearby Glasgow, said: “Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company has vast potential and will offer a genuine lifeline to some of the country’s most vulnerable veterans, for whom employment can make a transformative difference.

SBMC will be based on a tried and tested, commercially competitive but also socially proactive business model, ensuring a positive and rewarding environment for the Scottish veterans who will work in the factory.

and residential support provided in partnership with Erskine, will offer a lifeline to hundreds of Scottish veterans who have found themselves in difficulty following their return to civvy street.

Steve Conway, CEO of Erskine, said: “I am delighted that Erskine, has been able to support Royal British Legion Industries to establish Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company on our estate at Bishopton.

“This is one of several initiatives Erskine is taking forward to extend the services it provides to veterans, which will see a true Veterans’ Village being established with accommodation, employment, an activity centre and our well-known care homes being available on the same site.

“We very much look forward to seeing Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company not only become a leading social enterprise, but provide vital employment opportunities to our nation’s veterans.”

This, when coupled with the full wrap-around welfare 15

COMMEMORATE THOSE LOST Commemoration is an inherent part of our relationship with the Armed Forces, and that has never been more apparent as we enter the centenary year of the end of the First World War. Over the past few years, we have been reminded of the significant moments that took place within the Great War: in ’16, the Battle of The Somme; in ’17, the Battle of Passchendaele; in ’18, the Spring Offensive – the remembrance of which all play equal part in the great crescendo that leads to this year’s momentous centenary remembrance in November.

And such a humbling moment, requires a dignified token – a physical representation of the need to give our time and thoughts to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Devised by RBLI’s sister charity, The Royal British Legion, with whom we share almost a century of 16

history, The Silent Soldier – a dignified silhouette – will be situated around the country to mark this momentous year.

Local authorities and businesses are being encouraged to support the campaign which will not only raise funds for TRBL but will also provide employment to modern-day veterans.

The Silent Soldier is being produced in RBLI’s social enterprise Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company which employs more than 100 people – 70% of whom are either ex-service personnel, have a disability, or both.

Because of this, it is clear that the campaign is not only the perfect way to remember service personnel of the past, but also to help those of today.

FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE As millions across the Commonwealth bowed their heads in remembrance of those in our Armed Forces, representatives of Royal British Legion Industries, and other military charities, joined Her Majesty The Queen, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Prime Minister Theresa May at the Royal Albert Hall for the country’s most significant remembrance service.

The annual festival, held by The Royal British Legion, was presented by renowned BBC journalist and newsreader Huw Edwards, while performances by Emeli Sandé, Tom Odell, Melanie C, Alfie Boe and Lesley Garrett flanked heart-rendering shows by The Queens Colour Squadron and The Band of HM Royal Marines.

RBLI marketing manager Shelley Mckevitt-Batt, made the trip to South Kensington, alongside Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company supervisor Mark Lewis-Rendle, to attend the distinctive London building for the commemorative event.

Shelley said it was a phenomenal experience. She added: “It was a great honour for Mark and I to be able to represent RBLI at such a significant event. It really highlighted the gravitas of the work that we do and makes you want to do more to help our exservice personnel – if you ever get the opportunity, you should go.”

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THANK YOU TO OUR VISITORS Royal British Legion Industries recognises that collaboration is key if we are to tackle some of the more pressing challenges facing individuals with disabilities and our Armed Forces veterans today.

Because of this, we hold regular visits from influential people and high-profile dignitaries and sector partners at our Aylesford headquarters – the home of our village and social enterprise.

JOHN GAMP GREENWICH HOSPITAL

This past six months has seen numerous friends of RBLI tour Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company and our village, with the aim of showing them how working with us directly benefits the lives of hundreds of people.

GENERAL SIR GORDON MESSENGER KCB DSO* OBE ADC

HUGH PLAYER CEO GREENWICH HOSPITAL

“VOLUNTEERING AT RBLI HAS CHANGED MY LIFE WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT – IT GIVES ME A REASON TO KEEP GOING.” Roger Judge, volunteer

LIZ NICHOLL UK SPORT

SIR ROBERT WORCESTER KBE DL

LEE HOLLOWAY OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION

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TERRY WHITTLES TRBL NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

STEPHEN CLARK TD OUR OTHER VISITORS: • SIR IAN JOHNSTON • TREVOR MINTER DL • GLOBAL RADIO • SIR IAN JOHNSTON CBE QPM DL • JUBILEE SAILING TRUST • MARK ROLFE • BARRATT DEVELOPMENT PLC

PAUL CARTER KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

BAE SYSTEMS

WHY VOLUNTEER AT RBLI Volunteering is a both a truly commendable and rewarding pastime. The act of devoting one’s time to ensuring that the less fortunate are well supported is something which should always be encouraged.

Royal British Legion Industries received more than 14,000 hours of support from eager individuals, groups and corporate organisations – 33% of whom report having a physical disability, learning disability or mental health condition.

We at RBLI greatly appreciate the ongoing support of our volunteers, each of whom brings something special to our charity and helps the lives of those less fortunate every day.

“We would simply not be able to deliver the wide range of activities and engagement programmes with residents on and off the village without the support we get from the volunteers.

RBLI’s Volunteer Manager Andrew Stickells said: “Throughout 2017,

“They do a phenomenal amount of work overseeing crucial social

activities that give our beneficiaries a greater quality of life.

“RBLI’s volunteering programme has seen an exponential rise in participants over recent months and so, in response to this, the charity has started delivering volunteer management qualifications to members of the team, which are endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management.

This means we can offer greater opportunities and flexibility for volunteers across all areas of our organisation.”

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FROM MILITARY TO MOTIVATION Former Army Sergeant Colin Walker completed the LifeWorks course after his life fell apart.

“I knew who I was in the Army,” said Colin. “I was a very small cog in the military machine, but a cog nonetheless. However, when I came out I had absolutely no idea where I was and how I fit into society.

“In the civilian world there is no system – no hierarchy.

There are no rules as such and for me, at the time, it appeared to lack order.

“In the military, if there is an issue with the system, there are ways to fix it. It wasn’t perfect, we all knew that, but we do know what works and what doesn’t; whereas when you leave, the lack of control of your own life is incredibly unsettling.”

HELPING VETERANS THROUGH PAID WORK EXPERIENCE Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) and ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity have joined forces to provide vital work experience to veterans who are struggling to sustain employment due to physical and mental disabilities.

The Veterans’ Horticulture Project will provide horticulture therapy alongside more formal gardening courses and qualifications. The programme is designed to support veterans in unfamiliar environments, and to help them fulfil their potential – especially those in recovery, who are struggling to transition.

The grant, generously donated by The Soldiers’ Charity, will help ten veterans to craft their skills and give them vital work experience to help them regain their independence.

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Brigadier Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity said: “The Veterans’ Horticulture Programme provides a fantastic opportunity for veterans to feel a part of a community and to learn new skills which will help set them up for the future.

This is especially helpful for those who are struggling to transition from service into civilian life. Thank you to the RBLI for creating such a wonderful programme to support those in need.”

Steve Sherry said: “The money The Soldiers’ Charity kindly donated for this project will enable ten of our village’s veterans to undertake vital paid work experience, during which they will craft their skills and develop a sense of independence.

In addition they will have access to

peer support groups where they will share their experiences, solidify their learning and develop social skills – a crucial step towards independence.

“Those undertaking the programme, which is to be delivered in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society, will also receive specialised training from professional gardeners, including multiple Chelsea Gold Medal winner William Dyson.

“This phenomenal opportunity would not be available were it not for the support shown by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.”

Colin was fortunate enough to secure work for several years following his 17-year stint in the Army which saw him based around the UK and Europe. However, after spending three years setting up his own business as a freelance first-aid instructor, in a matter of weeks his world came crashing down.

“It was November 2016 when it all went horribly wrong for me.

“The business started to struggle and fall apart. I had my head above water – just. But then the vehicle I relied upon packed up. I quickly realised, all of a sudden, that everything was gone. I lost everything – my home, my business – everything.

“In the space of a month, my life had gone from something to nothing. I was worried for my wife and my two children who were both at school at the time.

I was lost in a world I’d never been in before. My confidence was at rock-bottom and I was desperate for a fresh start.”

Then, by something which he refers to as ‘a pure stroke of luck’, Colin was given the details of LifeWorks by a local Jobcentre Plus. “What happened then changed my life.

what had happened in my life I was still in a cynical mind-set, but that changed, not just as the week progressed but as the first day progressed.

“You could tell immediately that the LifeWorks team weren’t just there to turn up, get paid and go home.

By the end of the first day I could see that was not going to be the case, and that made a big difference.

“Within just the first couple of days, my confidence and the confidence of the others around me started to grow. By the end of that course – I had a CV I was impressed with, a clear idea of what I wanted to do, and the tools and knowledge of how to get there.

The LifeWorks team really showed me how to sell myself in a way I couldn’t before.

With his newfound sense of confidence Colin was once again eager to look for work. “After the course, I used what the team had taught me: I started refining my job searching.”

Within a month of finishing the course, Colin managed to secure an interview with SkillsForce – a national education charity who employ mostly ex-service personnel to lead teaching exercises in schools to empower children and young people to make positive life choices. His interview was successful which, he said, would not have happened if it was not for LifeWorks.

“I am entirely confident that I would not have secured this job if I hadn’t have attended that course and the first reason for that is because the employers would not have looked twice at my CV, the second is the interview techniques they taught us all. I knew the principles of basic interview techniques, but LifeWorks taught me how to put it into practice.

“LifeWorks has changed my life – I wish I had done it years ago.

“I would do anything to prove its worth to other veterans.”

“Naturally prior to attending a LifeWorks course in Colchester, Colin admits he was apprehensive. “I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “Because of

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EVENTS CALENDAR

I AV TED A IL SP A A BL CE E! S

Get stuck in this 2018 and join RBLI and take part in one of the charity’s fundrasing events. If you are interested in taking part in any of the events listed below, contact our new community fundraising manager Selena Goldsmith on 01622 79566 or email selena.goldsmith@rbli.co.uk. You can also visit rbli.co.uk/join-an-event.

8 APR

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KM CHARITY ABSEIL MAIDSTONE, KENT The spring abseil challenge organised by the KM Charity Team, and will be held at Thomas Place, Maidstone. This a 100ft drop to challenge participants to the limit. Any individual fundraiser raising over £250 will be entered into a draw to win 2 x Eurostar tickets to Paris, Brussels or Lille.

REGISTRATION £20

8 JUN

SPONSORSHIP

£75

THE CENTENARY RIDE AYLESFORD, KENT TO YPRES, BELGIUM

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Places are now available to join RBLI’s two-day bike ride through the historic Great War battlefields of France and Belgium. Cyclists will travel an astonishing 150 miles from RBLI’s head office in Aylesford, Kent, all the way to Ypres.

REGISTRATION £750

22 JUN

SPONSORSHIP

£250

3 PEAKS 24H CHALLENGE BEN NEVIS, SCAFELL PIKE & MT SNOWDON This challenge is fun, rewarding, hard on the feet and will require lots of determination and comfy shoes - it will push participants physically as well as mentally. The total walking distance across is 23 miles, the total ascent is 3064 metres and the total driving distance is 462 miles. It’s a race against the clock to finish the final peak before the 24 hours are up!

REGISTRATION £105

14 OCT

SPONSORSHIP

£600

ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON HYDE PARK, LONDON We have limited number of places in this stunning half marathon, taking in spectacular sites of the capital and includes four of the most beautiful Royal Parks; Hyde Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens and St James Park. We are looking for supporters to take on the challenge of running 13.1 miles.

REGISTRATION £30

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SPONSORSHIP

£350

RBLI’S WALL OF HONOUR Be the first to take part in Royal British Legion Industries’ truly unique project commemorating those who have served in the British Armed Forces as we approach the centenary of the end of World War One. The Wall of Honour will be erected in RBLI’s historic memorial garden and will give you the opportunity to have your name, or the name of a family member, friend or loved one, engraved into a commemorative plaque for a donation of £100 – all of which will go directly to veterans who need crucial support and assistance.

This is a limited opportunity for you to get your name engraved in our memorial garden, where throughout the year large-scale commemorative and military events are held.

The memorial garden, recently renamed to the Garden of Honour to commemorate the centenary of the beginning of the First World War, is a place where anyone can go to remember those who served, and

still serve in our Armed Forces. A still and tranquil place located in the heart of RBLI’s village.

‘Help us remember those who gave their yesterdays for our todays’ – a fitting tribute to those who sacrificed so much.

Each of you who joins us in the project will also be personally invited to attend the unveiling at a special event to celebrate Armistice Day 2018 – 100 years on from the end of the First World War. The Wall of Honour will be a lasting legacy to celebrate the lives lost during World War One and you will be able to visit the Wall of Honour with you family and friends any time throughout the year.

There is only limited space available so be quick to join us in this once in a life-time opportunity.

To leave a lasting legacy and find out more about the project, visit; WEB www.rbli.co.uk/wallofhonour EMAIL fundraising@rbli.co.uk PHONE 01622 795966 23

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT RBLI MARKETING

Phone: Website: Email:

01622 795900 rbli.co.uk marketing@rbli.co.uk

This product was printed by:

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Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7NL. Charity No. 210063.