poppies

[eddiemairswife]

Just noticed poppies have started flowering on TV. I wonder if people who have a little brooch actually donate each year.

@MoonWoman69

But I do donate to the RBL every year too, as I acknowledge that I'm no longer needing a traditional poppy, so they are missing out on my donation.

• But they aren't if you are donating?

I have a silver poppy that I wear each year on my outer coat, and I will buy a red pin badge with the current year in it to wear on my regular clothing. They ask for £2 for those, but I usually put in £15/£20. Sometimes the local legion fundraises mid-year; last time they did, I gave them £50.

Yes, because it's needed for the charity commission. The UK Military have a Diversity and Inclusivity department based at Sandhurst. The military is very diverse, making sure everybody is treated equally is a legal requirement.
Also, poppies do not pay salaries or admin costs within RBL, this is done by memberships.

Of course what matters? I have no idea what you're talking about.

Here you go HG and all the others thinking this is a non issue

https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/10/25/get-your-progress-pride-poppy/

Ok then, badly worded - they would have been missing out on my donation otherwise. I think everyone else knew what I meant. 🙄

DH and I buy new poppy brooches each year. Even if someone does buy one brooch and rewear it, surely their larger donation buys them a little leeway to wear the same one for a couple of years.

DH spent about £120 this year. A bit more than a couple of £1 paper poppies so the re-wear problem isn’t really the cheapskate problem you think.

Yes. We do.

I bought a couple of brooches because I hate fiddling about with the paper ones and pins. I do still donate each year.

Oh thanks for that link, I'll buy one of those.

They worked with Stonewall between 2018 and 2020 to make sure they were compliant with legal requirements on diversity & inclsivity. They have not worked with them since 2020. They have had a diversity manager since 2020. The British Army have an inclusivity department, it makes sense that should continue through to the RBL.
Monies raised from poppy sales are NOT used for admin costs or wages within the charity.
The modern military is incredibly diverse, to make sure everybody gets the specialist help they need from RBL is a full time job.

I'm very anti war so choose not to wear one. I also lost my dad on the same day (not in the same year) when I was a child do prefer to remember him. Rather than people in the armed forces. But if someone wants to wear it and contribute 20p, or a million pounds, that's up to them isn't it.

I get purple poppies. The money raised goes to various service animal charities.
In the last few years, I have made them to sell, and donated the money to Murphy's Army too

I thought they stopped selling purple poppies quite a few years ago, though a badge is AFAIK still available

Wear a poppy or not, donate or not - that's part of the freedoms we have won, in part, by war.

The only time a poppy is necessary is if you are attending a formal Remembrance ceremony where it's part of the (implicit) dress code.