Push for volunteers for poppy appeal

The Royal British Legion poppy appeal takes place each year in the lead up to Remembrance Day in November

A push for volunteers has been organised for this year’s poppy appeal collection in part of Staffordshire.

Cannock Chase District Council’s armed forces champion, and former royal marine, councillor David Williams has organised an event to encourage people to support this year’s Royal British Legion (RBL) campaign.

The event will take place on 5 September, from 18:00 BST until 19:30, at the Civic Centre on Beecroft Road in Cannock.

The poppy appeal is the RBL’s biggest fundraising campaign, held during the period of remembrance in November.

Across the country, it raises millions of pounds each year to support the armed forces community.

“Our community has great respect and affection for our armed forces which is visibly demonstrated by the numbers turning out for Remembrance Day and other military events across the district,” Mr Williams said.

“Our local authority has made a commitment to support and honour those who have served in the military, and their families, recognising and remembering the sacrifices they have made - and this first networking event will be instrumental in finding new ways to encourage more people to come on board with the poppy appeal.”

Mark Smith, the north Staffordshire poppy appeal manager, said the event would be a chance to discuss making sure the annual appeal continued to be a success locally.

“I am grateful to Cannock Chase District Council and councillor Williams for taking up the baton to start things rolling, and to all the amazing volunteers that are out there already,” he said.