“May I just say that if it wasn’t for this place, I’d probably be dead”
Whilst waiting to enter the Royal British Legion Industries tour this is what one of the men working outside said to our group. It was the start to an amazing tour and what the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) does for so many.
Our story started with a call for urgent bedding during the cold spell in 2022, soon after RBLI sent Lisa and Steve to be our guest speakers one Tuesday evening. The evening was informative and inspirational with many Rotarians interested to learn more and so Lisa extended an invitation to the club to visit and see the factory and accommodation for ourselves.
The RBLI employs our armed forces veterans and other individuals in the manufacturing and fulfillment of some of the everyday products we take for granted; wooden pallets for shipping and haulage, packing crates for fruit farmers, to road and rail signs to fulfilling packets of products that are sold in DIY stores up and down the country.
These commercial activities provide gainful employment and raises funds for the wider village to enable the services that our veterans require at different stages of their lives. That might start with the emergency accommodation of Mountbatten Pavilion where we met our first veteran who the RBLI had saved, though to family housing, to assisted living in Queen Elizabeth Court, to the domiciliary care for veterans or their spouses aged over 55 at Greenwich House, to nursing and dementia care in Bradbury House and the Appleton Lodge care home.
Every part of the village has a slightly different purpose and specialism but the single goal of improving the lives of our armed forces veterans and their families.
The tour was interesting and inspirational, we will be staying in touch with the RBLI and whole heartedly encourage those who can to support the Royal British Legion Industries in supporting those whom have given so much to our country.