D-DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY
RBLI in the media
On 22nd May, the team created a sand installation of 80 Tommies to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. It was fashioned as a tribute to the troops who took part in the D-Day Landings, each silhouette a silent reminder of the sacrifice made 80 years ago. The installation was covered by both local and national press, featuring in The Times, Reuters and The Independent Online. Thank you to all involved, especially the veterans who shared the moment the tide washed the silhouettes away.
On 3rd June, BBC Breakfast were here from 4:45am setting up and broadcasting live from BBMC, interviewing members of the team including Chief Executive, Lisa Farmer, Operations Manager, David Church (pictured below left), and one of our wonderful volunteers and residents, Sue Mlynek.
This was another incredible opportunity to reach a viewership of more than 1 million people and share information about BBMC, while promoting our beloved Tommy.
On 5th June, RBLI was on the BBC again, this time featuring on The One Show’s D-Day Special. During two days of filming, a crew captured footage on RBLI’s village, including speaking to Tirtha (pictured below right) about his military background and how BBMC has helped him, as well as having a sing-along with our wonderful Violet, a 99 year-old resident at Appleton Lodge.
This was a particularly unique opportunity as we were one of only a few military charities to feature on this special programme that was viewed by 2.2 million people around the UK.
RBLI Shop Sells £380k of Products
During the D-Day period, our online shop sold over £380k of products, including the commemorative D-Day collection.
The highest-grossing items were our D-Day Solar Tommy, the D-Day Flag, and our new D-Day Illuminated Tommy (pictured right).
Advertising for the new range commenced on 5th April and the momentum built throughout, peaking on days when RBLI and Tommy were in the media. Sales during these peaks were as high as 220% more than on other days, helping ensure another successful shop campaign on a special military anniversary.
A BEACON OF LIGHT
On 6th June in our Garden of Honour, around 150 people gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy with a poignant beacon lighting ceremony.
The event included two minutes of silence and a piper, playing Highland Laddie, just as was played on Sword Beach 80 years before.
Pete Gower, an RBLI resident whose father Arthur was among the courageous men who landed on the beaches of Normandy, had the honour of lighting the beacon at 9.15pm.
Veterans in attendance from later conflicts shared their stories, creating a connection between past and present generations. The ceremony was a moving reminder of the extraordinary courage
displayed by the servicemen and women from all branches of the Armed Forces. It also highlighted the significant efforts of those who supported the war effort on the home front.
D-DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY
More fundraising success!
Over 70 peole took on our epic D-Day 80 Trek from Aylesford to Chilham covering almost 50km starting at midnight on 7th June.
The North Downs route was challenging and everyone who took part including marketing’s own Robin, Catherine, Jemma, Fundraising’s Rhonda, Leatherhead’s Andy Ray and veteran Vicky McLennan should feel incredibly proud.
In addition to this, a virtual fundraising campaign, The D-Day 80 Challenge, is running throughout June encouraging participants to take on 80km - the length of all five beaches where the Allied Forces made their historic invasion.
People can embark on this challenge however they choose and it is open to everyone, with all participants receiving a free D-Day 80 t-shirt.
The current fundraising total is at £75k and counting, yet another incredible campaign flying the flag for RBLI and our nation’s veterans.
The fundraising team worked through night and day making sure participants were safe and supported.
The first participant finished at 10am and the final finishers came through just after 3pm.
The event was kindly sponsored and supported by Chevron Traffic management and has raised over £31k to date.
It isn’t just the community team raising profile and vital funds during D-Day, the Individual Giving team have been working hard on a pin incentive campaign that has resulted in 950 direct debits that could lead to around £6k in monthly income.
28TH – 30TH JUNE
FROM AYLESFORD, KENT TO YPRES, BELGIUM
Come and wave off our riders at 9:30am on Friday 28th June from Capel Morris Centre!
NEWS FROM AROUND RBLI
All go at Leatherhead!
It has been a busy month at BBMC in Leatherhead with orders for personalised bunting completed and dispatched on the same day the order was placed, courtesy of our ‘Head of Bunting’, Samyia Hassan’s, prowess on the sewing machine.
Defence dinner
This month, BBMC hosted an event with some of the British defence industry’s major players. This was all in aid of social value and our mission to make social impact a key consideration in procurement within the defence sector.
The event began with a tour of the factory and of the Centenary Village to showcase the scale of the services we offer, and ended with a networking event and dinner where there was conversation about social value procuement and the role the defence industry can play in making an difference.
We are delighted to have received such a high level of support and comitment and we look forward to seeing what opportunities arise as a result.
Another order saw the printing of t-shirts being worn at a Charity event for a social enterprise dance organisation, Jam Place, who use BBMC for all their printing.
Other jobs have included die-cut box inserts for Veterans Can, and the first set of books for RBLI supporter and author, Renford Marsden.
New beds at Mountbatten Pavillion
These are no ordinary delivery drivers… these are the drivers who delivered 28 brand new beds and mattresses to Mountbatten Pavilion.
Such a good news story getting specialist furniture in for the veterans there, all with funds raised through The Great Tommy Sleep Out.
Record sign order for BBMC
BBMC have been busy this month manufacturing temporary signs. This is the largest order received this year with over 300 signs and a value of over £100k.
Well done to everyone involved in completing this project on time for our client Chevron.
New laptops for Lifeworks
RBLI’s Lifeworks team took delivery of four fully refurbished laptops courtesy of the Kent based charity Computers 4 Charity
We are delighted to have received the laptops which will be used on all our employability courses enabling more veterans to create CVs, covering letters and provide an essential digital portal to the job market.
100th Birthday celebrations at QEC
One of our long-standing Assisted Living residents, Emma, celebrated her 100th birthday this week with a birthday party hosted by Queen Elizabeth Court. She was very proud of her birthday card from His Majesty The King and everyone had a lovely time celebrating together.
HR CORNER
Ihasco Training
Do make sure that you have completed the following training modules:
- Stress Awareness
- Mental Health Awareness
- Equality and Diversity
Reminders to those of you have not completed one or more of these modules will be sent out shortly. New starters will receive their log in emails in the coming weeks. We will be running sessions for those who do not have access to an RBLI computer.
Staff Forum
The Staff Forum met on 19th June to complete the review of how the Staff Forum should function going forward as well as the types of matters it will consider and the role of Employee Reps.
We will shortly publish details of Employee Reps and where there are vacancies, invite employees from those areas to register their interesting in standing as an Employee Rep.
Volunteering Opportunities
We are still looking for volunteers to help out in BBMC both in the Signs, Sales and Despatch areas, as well as local driving deliveries.
If you know someone who has some time on their hands and wants to help us make an impact on the lives of those we support, please ask them to call or e-mail Dawn Pedder (01622 795924 or dawn.pedder@rbli.co.uk).
Inside RBLI launches
We have now launched our new staff app, Inside RBLI.
Inside RBLI will now be the primary tool for staff communications at RBLI so please download it now, if you haven’t already, and check it regularly to keep up to date with the latest news. Please do engage with posts too, ‘liking’ the kind of posts you want to see more of.
Your support of this tool is very important as we try to find new, effective ways of communicating with our team, particularly those without access to an RBLI e-mail address including those working at our care facilities and in our factories.
We can’t wait to continue reading posts from across the organisation!
STAFF AWARDS
Nominations are now open to nominate a colleague or team for one of the six award categories:
- Excellence in Leadership & Management
- Ambassador of the Year
- Team of the Year
- Fundraiser of the Year
- Standout Impact Award
- Exceptional Colleague Award
You have until 10th July to send in your nomination so don’t waste any time!
Please complete and send your nomination form to dawn.pedder@rbli.co.uk
AWARDS
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
FEBRUARY 2024
Phil Wilkinson
APRIL 2024
Nominees are:
Catherine Goodier
Betty Streeton
INSTANT REWARDS
MARCH 2024
Steve Hopkins
MAY 2024
Nominations for May are now closed and the nominees will be announced shortly.
5 members of the RBLI team have received instant rewards this month with each of them receiving a £25 Love2Shop voucher.
FUNDRAISING/MARKETING
Kerry Locke
Rhonda Trevillion
EXECUTIVE
Tammy Howard
PROPERTY SERVICES
Andy Goode
Chris Haymen
Don’t forget it is easy to nominate a colleague for an Instant Rewardsimply complete the Instant Reward Form, get their line manager to approve and then send to Dawn.Pedder@rbli.co.uk.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
STARTERS CHANGES
SBB
Ann Nelmes – Administration Assistant
GOVERNANCE & COMPLIANCE
Erica Wilkinson – Head of Governance
BBMC
Melanie Lay – Head of Sales - Signs
LIVING
Chloe Gollop – Healthcare Assistant
Ali Maynard – Healthcare Assistant
Claire Pearce – Healthcare Assistant
SBB
Emily McNeillis – from Individual Giving Manager to Senior Philanthropy Manager
LIVING
Nigel Field – from Property Services Supervisor to Property Services Manager
LEAVERS
BBMC
Les Brook – Manufacturing Operative
LIVING
Emeka Muajide – Healthcare Assistant
Gary Jamieson – Referral Engagement OfficerNortheast & Scotland
