to think that if you sell poppy related products, you give ALL the money to charity?

[DrSeuss]

Not just 20%?

A local FB selling page has someone selling crystal poppy brooches, stating that 20% goes to the RBL. I commented that I disliked anyone profiting from the sale of poppies apart from the RBL or Help for Heroes. Seller responds that he is giving more than many high street stores, e.g. Marks and Spencer's. This may be true but IMHO, neither he nor any other commercial enterprise should be making money from poppies.

I have previously made crochet poppies but gave every penny to the RBL. I didn't even take out money for materials. AIBU to find making money for yourself in this way wrong?

In our experience, DH was injured in Afghan and is awaiting medical discharge, the RBL have been amazing in supporting us so far and the continuing support is much needed and appreciated. RBL have also helped my friend whose husband died in the same incident.
H4H have done absolutely naff all, nothing, nada, not interested in either situation.
We donate to RBL and some smaller charities we have first hand experience of.
Of the dozen or so soldiers I know who have been injured not one has received any type of support from H4H

Oh come on poppy appeal is the biggest con going, hardly anything goes to the charity.
Whenever I say this though, some poster crops up and says that I'm lying.
however, I see many of their fundraisers and staff driving around in top of the range cars and on top salaries.
Add to this the marketing, which i know, they need. Little actually goes where it should anyway, just like any large multi million charitable organisations.

But it now represents every armed conflict, which doesn't sit right with me. DP is RAF and won't wear one because he does not support the Iraq or Falklands wars. He will donate only to Help for Heroes because they are genuinely doing excellent and vital work. The British Legion does sod all.

Wearing a poppy is sweet fuck alll to do with supporting armed conflict. It's to do with remembering those who died.

One of the things H4H's does is refer you on to another charity, like the RBL, if they can. They are sitting on masses amounts of money, yet they have incredibly strict criteria for who they help. If my husband asked for help from them he'd be told "no", however the RBL would help us.

What I find speaks volumes about H4H is how many serving armed forces personnel don't and won't support them.

In general, I think only RBL should sell poppy related stuff. There's too many grey areas, even where intentions are good.

I believe that H4H is a worthy charity but still feel that it should be unnecessary. Why should people who have been injured serving our country have to appeal to a charity for help? They should receive what they need, not have to ask for a donation.

My Dad (91) was in WW2 and my Grandfather was in WW1
RBL have given him some help over the years, he used to be a poppy seller too, that's good enough for me
I have a crystal poppy brooch, big poppy on my car, enamel badge on my lanyard for work and today in Sainsburys bought a poppy to dangle off the zip on my handbag
On the other hand I won't donate to Macmillan or Age UK and prefer to give my time to charity where I can

What I find speaks volumes about H4H is how many serving armed forces personnel don't and won't support them

Indeed. In fact at one of my last Mess Dinners we took a charity bucket around and raised about 2k (we did it most functions but this was a good one). At the next Mess Meeting we discussed where to send the cash - the overwhelming answer was "Anywhere - Except H4H"

Genuine question- why not give to H4H? I know nothing bad about them but would be grateful to know if there is anything irregular about them.

They have a lot of money in the bank - which wouldn't be an issue, except they were turning injured personnel away citing 'funding' issues.

It's 'current' conflicts only, so Iraq and Afghan. Bad luck to those injured in NI. Oh and 'on deployment' injuries also - so tough shit if you lose your leg in a car crash on the way to work, you don't qualify.

Soldiers told to become 'poster boys' and when they declined - so did the funding (sore spot - good friend is a paralysed following a training accident. No interest from H4H until he qualified for the paralympics...sudddenly they offered sponsorship, when his request for a sports wheelchair grant was turned down two years previously)

No funding for PTSD until recently (after being criticised on TV for not finding hidden disabilities)

And some badly hidden large large 'pay offs' over the last few years. Whistleblowers? Maybe. I couldn't possibly say.

Oh come on poppy appeal is the biggest con going, hardly anything goes to the charity

Really.
You know this as fact do you gilly.

I will save you the trouble of viewing the charities financial info which is freely available on line and explain in the easiest way i can.
THE RBL IS A NON PROFIT CHARITY.
The amount spent every week on vets and their famalies is mind blowing. Not only does the RBL support individuals they also plow money in to other vets charaties for example the Battle back centre.
The family members who attended the invictus games in Florida had all of their travel and accomadation paid for by the RBL this was arounf 500 people. Only the sports men and women were paid for by invictus.
Phoenix House recovery centre in Catterick had a 10 million donation from RBL and is run by H4H.
Combat stress is also recieves financial donrations from RBL.

Oh and RBL does not support war. It never has. It supports those who signed up to HM forces and their immediate family.

Giving to H4H is fine.

Hijacking the Poppy Appeal for a different charity is not fine.

Yes RBL and H4H have joint projects (as do other military charities) and might have joint fundraising, but I say again this does not include the Popoy Appea..

Key differences between H4H and RBL:

H4H is only for those in need following the Iraq and Afghan wars (there's a qualifying date written in to their charitable purposes). RBL is for any veteran.

H4H funds capital projects (which can extend to equipment). RBL funds services as well.

RBL has caseworkers (though SSAFA has a bigger network, so they often work together). H4H doesn't.

RBL is the largest provider of mobility scooters in the country, and 'alert' bracelets. It runs care homes and even holiday camps (for those who could never afford a break otherwise, including paying for transport there and back). It has a handyman service, helping people stay in their own homes for longer. It funds CAB so there is a money service. It can pay for funerals, and visits to graves overseas. H4H does none of those things.

That does not mean H4H does not do valuable work. Just that it is different.

Bubble Yes, I deal in facts. I have spoken to the area managers. been recommended for a job with them.
They have lovely cars, wow, they are so well looked after.
I could never accept such a job tbh.

Really i would be interested to know which area managers as i know all of them.

Feel free to Pm me their name Gilly

TheFairyCaravan

But the poppy wasn't that originally. It was meant to commemorate the loss of lives in both world wars (hence why the Poppy was picked). Then it got hijacked in the 80s/90s to be all wars and conflicts.

Sorry, but I can't support a charity that supported the actions of British troops in Ireland during the Troubles. I have relatives who saw those innocent civilians murdered on Bloody Sunday. I can't support that, sorry. DP won't support it for the same reason. Even though the Legion have been bad in our experiences, if the Poppy was only for WW1/2 we'd wear it.

Bowie The charity does not support any wars/conflict.
Where do people get this idea from?

The charity supports those who serve/served. Thats is.
The RBL only requires 7 days of service no conflict duty is needed. It has never supported the conflicts service personnel are sent to it only supports those who serve/served.

I wonder why, when there is the will to send services personnel into conflicts, there is not the same will to provide them with care afterwards

why should rehab or prostheses or what have you depend on the largesse of donations? why is it not funded by the governments who sent them? why is the cost of these services not taken into account when planning military operations?

and please don't get my post twisted - my point is not that services personnel should just be left to rot after they return home, but rather that their care and support should be funded by the government who saw fit to send them

Bubble

Aw, I recognise your posting style, hello again.
I think we left it last time that you would carry on with your blissful ignorance.

No idea Uncontrol

The MOD are improving their "aftercare" of personnel however it is far from enough and forces charaties still continue to pick up the pieces.

Erm sorry i have no idea who you are.
What last time ate you referring to?

Still waiting for that PM Gilly seen as you apparently know the area managers.

Rehab and prostheses do not depend on charity.

It's surprising how many people think Headley Court is a H4H facility (because they gave it a swimming pool), when it's actually been a fully government funded centre since the 1940s.

Various charities provide add-ons there (eg gardening therapy) but the core work is all paid for by the government.

In that case I am not really clear about what H4H or the British Legion do

if the government is funding services and support, what are these charities providing? If anyone knows could they clarify?

Exactly, Uncontrolled. If an ex service man/woman needs something due to disability or MH issues sustained as a result of service, why do they not just get it? Why must they apply to a charity? There must be some going without because they can't bring themselves to ask.

BubbleGumBubble

But by supporting every veteran ever, they're supporting every conflict ever, indirectly. Doesn't sit right with me.

Uncontrolledimmigrant

Mostly, charities like the Legion and H4H are able to provide funding and grants that allow people to access (for example) private mental health treatment, or sending them to certain types of therapy and treatment that you might not be able to get otherwise. Plus the support network is huge as well.