Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Britain's poppy appeal faces a 'battle of its own' during the pandemic

BRITAIN's poppy appeal, when tens of millions buy a red paper or metal poppy to remember the war dead and help armed forces families, is struggling to collect money amid the strictest lockdown in peacetime history.

In Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Remembrance Poppy became a poignant symbol of respect for the war dead, a source of support for veterans and their families, and a way to reflect on the horrors of war.


But the Covid-19 pandemic has impeded what is the Royal British Legion's biggest fundraising campaign. It is millions of pounds behind its usual total collection of £50 million ($66 million).

"This will be the first time in the history of the poppy appeal that our volunteers will be unable to carry out face to face collections anywhere across the UK," the Royal British Legion’s director general, Charles Byrne, said.

"The loss of that activity could run into millions of pounds in fundraising which means online donations are crucial," Byrne said.

The sale of more than 40 million poppies usually takes place at stations, churches, offices, schools and factories across Britain, with services on Remembrance Sunday and two minutes of silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to mark the moment the guns fell silent in 1918.

This year much is different.

In a sign of the Covid-19 times, the fundraising campaign has been forced largely online. The Royal British Legion is offering downloads of poppies and asking people to display one in their window.

The normal annual Remembrance Sunday march past the Cenotaph in London did not take place though Queen Elizabeth attended a scaled back ceremony from a balcony.

"Like everything in this time of coronavirus, everything is up in the air," said Alexander Owen, head of armed forces engagement at the Royal British Legion.

The UK's charity sector had an income of more than  £81 billion in 2019, but is facing an expected funding gap of more than  £10 billion in this half of the year alone as income drops and demand for many services rises, according to Pro Bono Economics, a research organisation, which monitors the sector.

A Pro Bono Economics survey of 261 UK civil society organisations, showed 88 per cent of respondents expected Covid-19 to reduce their income relative to pre-crisis plans. Nearly 60 per cent said they have had to "significantly" reduce their activity.

While some health charities involved in the Covid-19 response have seen a rise in donations, other charities have seen lower revenue - for example those dependant on charity shops and some charities involved in education.

More For You

Hertfordshire Police treat vandalism of Muslim graves as Islamophobic hate crime

The damage to plaques at Carpenders Park Cemetery has sparked outrage in the Muslim community

Hertfordshire Police treat vandalism of Muslim graves as Islamophobic hate crime

Grant Williams

HERTFORDSHIRE Police have said they are “confident” the desecration of Muslim graves at a cemetery in north London “was a religiously motivated act”.

The leader of the council that owns the cemetery visited the site last week to speak to grieving families following the horrific incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Hinduphobia’ report tabled in Scottish parliament

The Hinduphobia in Scotland report was authored by Dhruva Kumar, Neil Lal, Sukhi Bains, Anuranjan Jha and Ajit Trivedi

‘Hinduphobia’ report tabled in Scottish parliament

A MEMBER of the Scottish parliament has put forward a motion in the House commending the work of a Glasgow-based Gandhian society that drafted a report highlighting the “rising levels of prejudice, discrimination and marginalisation” of Hindus in Scotland.

Ash Regan, an Alba Party member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) representing Edinburgh Eastern, tabled the motion based on the report by the charity Gandhian Peace Society earlier this month.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mahmood orders bail rules review over minority bias claims

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood leaves after attending a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in central London. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)

Mahmood orders bail rules review over minority bias claims

JUSTICE SECRETARY Shabana Mahmood has promised a full review of court bail guidance following criticism that it gives special treatment to ethnic minorities, reported The Telegraph.

Speaking in Parliament, Mahmood said she would “ensure that equality before the law is never a principle that is compromised”. Her comments came after Conservative MP Robert Jenrick raised concerns over new bail guidelines introduced in January.

Keep ReadingShow less
Saad Qureshi’s 'Tower of Now' sculpture celebrates Bradford’s shared histories

Saad Qureshi

Saad Qureshi’s 'Tower of Now' sculpture celebrates Bradford’s shared histories

A NEW public artwork reflecting Bradford’s history and cultural communities will be unveiled in the city this week.

Titled Tower of Now, the 15-metre sculpture by artist Saad Qureshi will be opened on April 26 at Hall Ings as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Keep ReadingShow less