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Your Poppy Appeal needs you

Legion magazine editorial

Published: 30 September 2009

The countdown begins. In less than a month, the Legion’s army of loyal Poppy Collectors, armed with their bright blue boxes and red collecting tins, will deploy to Britain’s high streets, railway stations and shopping centres.

Every year, these ‘Poppy People’ do an amazing job – as the record-breaking fundraising totals of recent years prove.

But every one of them knows that the only way to keep up this good work is to ensure as many collectors as possible are out there on the streets.  Earlier this autumn, the Legion – with the help of singing star and ‘forces sweetheart’ Hayley Westenra – launched its Poppy People campaign to encourage more people to volunteer to help boost the Legion’s Appeal this November.

So how can you attract more Poppy People in your area? Many branches around the country have found a simple solution to this: call on the younger generation. Several counties have employed the services of local cadets, who have been more than enthusiastic to help out, and their efforts have boosted Appeal totals by thousands of pounds.

But that’s just one pool of potential volunteers. Bearing in mind that the Legion’s membership figures already stretches to hundreds of thousands, and its supporter numbers go into millions, there are many more groups of people out there who would be willing to join the ‘Poppy People’ force. All you need to do is find them.

What’s your local Legion doing to attract new volunteers? Share your tips here with your fellow readers

Comment on this blog

1. At 17.28 on 30 September 2009, Fredrick Munday wrote:

Nothing. I used to turn out collecting each year... but for the past 4 years, even though I have offered my services, I have never been contacted.

2. At 17.36 on 30 September 2009, Richard Stacpoole-Ryding wrote:

Mr Munday is not alone. I have offered my services in past years and even left a message with the local branch. I have never been contacted by anyone. I can't be bothered to contact anyone this year. What a shame!

3. At 17.37 on 3 October 2009, David Ball wrote:

Some, many of the PAO are still in fulltime employment and I confess to this that I do miss calls from vols and to that I apologise but when we work 12 - 14 hour days I think I can be allowed to miss the odd one. Lots of people think that being a PAO is just getting vols they do not see the logistical side of writing the labels for the cans filling of the boxes with poppies and other items getting them to the designated places or person, then collecting them getting the monies counted and then banking it then cleaning and storing the tins for next year, not to mention giving people lifts to stand in the town or elsewhere and then yes taking them back home. It is quite a challenge and I am just grateful that I have 2 or 3 good people who do a lot for me and they are retired. But an awful lot you have to do yourself. Potential vols out there I apologise but please keep ringing. On the other hand you could join The Legion and become the Poppy Appeal Organiser.

4. At 18.13 on 6 October 2009, Ronnie Carter wrote:

I am an Ex Soldier. In 2005 got out after 22 years service and joined my local branch (Paignton.) I have collected 2007, 2008 and I am in full time work and still manage to do my bit after work and weekends. 2009 will be the same. For what our boys and girls go through past and present. They bother to put their lives on the line for our country (been there got the t shirt.) To the people who have phoned their local branch and got nothing and couldn’t be bothered!

You’re writing on this website, so I ask why not go to the contact link and sort it out from there.

Is your branch not open????? Sorry if this offends but I am bothered!

5. At 09.51 on 8 October 2009, Kevin Jeffery, Paignton kevinmjeffery@aol.com wrote:

I am saddened to hear of the lack of return calls some of you have received. 

If your branch has not been able to get back to you, I would advise you to call the county headquarters of your area and register with them. 

Each County HQ has a Poppy Appeal Organiser (PAO) and he/she will be able to get you in touch with the relevant PAO. 

It is worthy of note that some branch contacts are for other people and not specifically the PAO - this might be the reason for non-contact.

If you are attempting to contact any of the branches in Torbay, please drop me a line and I will try and help.

6. At 21.33 on 15 October 2009, Roger wrote:

As a PAO for TWO collections, I wish I had some of the moaning correspondents in my areas. It would be very good to have a volunteer phone me so I could miss their call. For the first time in nearly ten years I have actually had someone break the deafening silence of the responses of volunteers to requests for help. Oh bliss!!

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