Squaddie views regarding the Royal British Legion

[Gerrycc943]

Many thanks for your views Gerry, and thanks for taking this task on. As you can see we have acted on your suggestion. This area will be solely dedicated to providing news about the guys and girls from all 3 battalions, who may pass through Selly Oak.

Al,

Thanks for allocating the site.

However, it's not just this site that concerns me, there might be some other ex RWF in the area, not aware of help that they are both eligible and entitled to receive. If anyone has details regarding needy or misplaced RWF chaps in the West Midlands, please get in touch with me.

[Smokeyjoe]

Hello Gerrycc943,
I have read your comments with interest regarding the Royal British Legion and SSAFFA Forces Help, I must declare an interest at this point, I was a case worker with SSAFFA for 5 years and have been involved with my local Branch of the RBL in particular helping with the Poppy Appeal.

I would remind everyone that like me all local RBL and SSAFFA people are normaly unpaid volunteers, visits to clients normaly have to be at the request of family/clients, in particular I think I am right in saying that serving service personnel who have been casavaced to the UK are not visited by charitable organizations untill requested to do so by say the Regimental system.
You are being a little unfair to all the thousands of ex service people who volunteer by describing the RBL as being "a total waste of time", it may be that you have had a bad experiance in your area but I can assure you that it is not true in the Colwyn Bay area, yes there can always be room for improvement but without the likes of the Royal British Legion and SSAFFA ex service personnel would have to rely on the government, perish the thought.
Kind regards,
Joe.

[Gerrycc943]

Joe,

With hindsight you are probably right. I have had a bad experience with my local RBL and may have been a little too critical by comparing other associations with my local one. I have removed the post accordingly.

Apologise for being a little quick off the mark, just wondered if any other forum members had similar views on the performance of their local RBLs.

I shouldn't have put it on this site anyway, I'll be more careful next time.

[Smokeyjoe]

Gerry,

No apology required, I have been on the verge of blowing my top as well.

Kind regards,

Joe.

[Paul Hinge]

In reply to Gerry and Joe's comments. There is a massive curve in the responses given by RBL's in different areas. The first point is the age profile of the branch members and their take on situations and secondly its the ability to actually do something about a given situation.
Although over the years the RBL have been wonderful in raising the profile of the needs of ex-servicemen and their families their over reliance on volunteers and the good will of branch members perhaps has, I feel, run its course. Everything these days needs to be done in a highly professional, and dare I say it, corporate manner. The vast majority of the RBL volunteers are retired people. Their spirt and desire to help their fellow serviceman does not wane, but perhaps their bodies are not in a position to do this very difficult work, AND THAT BECOMES FRUSTRATING FOR ALL CONCERNED!!

Hingey