A team of charity fundraisers have been offered a base in the city centre ahead of its street collection campaign for the annual Poppy Appeal.
Cllr Kevin Guy with Poppy Appeal co-ordinator, Pearl Shaw | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council
The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s biggest fundraising campaign, which is held every year in November during the period of Remembrance.
Organisers of the Bath Poppy Appeal were looking for a shop where volunteers could pick up poppies and drop off donations.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has offered the use of a property in Walcot Street for the duration of the campaign.
Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “I’m glad that we were able to respond quickly and accommodate the Bath Poppy Appeal.
“As an ex-serviceman and the council’s Armed Forces Champion, I know how important this campaign is to the Royal British Legion in raising vital funds for the Armed Forces community.
“The collectors have been at the heart of the Poppy Appeal for 100 years and after two years it will be good to see them back out on the streets of Bath selling poppies.
“The money they collect will continue to support people in urgent need of help.”
This year the event will mark 100 years since the nation’s collective Remembrance traditions were first brought together: the poppy, two-minute silence, Armistice Day, the service for the Unknown Warrior and the march-past at the Cenotaph in London.
Poppy Appeal co-ordinator, Pearl Shaw, said: “I am over the moon at being offered the property at 27 Walcot Street and I wish to thank everyone who so kindly pulled out all the stops to support the Bath Poppy Appeal.
“This year is the centenary of the organisation and if it were not for people’s generosity, we could not be there to support service personnel and their families.”
The Poppy Appeal is being launched today, Thursday 28th October. Remembrance Sunday will take place on Sunday 14th November.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help the Bath Poppy Appeal can contact [email protected] or call 0774 982 4431.
