The League Of Remembrance
Charity number: 213364
Website: www.leagueofremembrance.org.uk
Description:
We support Armed Forces veterans, their widows and dependents, who are vulnerable, or in need, hardship or distress.
These are people who have served their nation in many different capacities, and who now need our support to find, and sustain, a fresh purpose in life, something that enables them to maintain personal health and well-being, and a feeling of self-worth, but which equally importantly enables them to give something back to, and improves immensely, our local communities.
The model we have adopted to achieve this aim is based on the principle that we want our beneficiaries to support many others, as well as to receive support themselves. We do this by identifying the needs, skills and experience possessed by our beneficiaries (called Remembrance Workers in recognition of our origins); finding suitable volunteering opportunities in Greater London hospitals; matching both parties up; conducting scrutiny, induction and management through the hospital Volunteer Services Manager; and then allowing our beneficiaries to deliver a range of services including manning information points; acting as a guide; working in the shop or gardens; undertaking administrative duties; or simply acting as a friendly face to patients and their loved ones. We call it ?Helping People, To Help Themselves, By Helping Others?.
In return for this volunteering work we provide (as many of our Remembrance Workers have limited means) financial support; a number of group social events; and direct welfare support/signposting as appropriate.
We strongly believe this model provides excellent value for money. A 2013 report by the Kings Fund estimates that for every £1 invested in hospital volunteer services, a return of £11 is generated ? based on our average annual charitable investment this generates £1.248M of value to the NHS. Furthermore, a model where our more senior citizens continue to contribute to their communities long after retirement sends out a powerful message to all ? that it is never too late to make a difference, and that age is not a barrier to achievement.