Olney RFC are running a raffle on Sunday 8th November (Remembrance Sunday) to raise money for The Royal British Legion - a charity the club is proud to be closely affiliated with.

All the raffle prizes have been generously donated by sponsors, local businesses and club members...but always thankful for more prizes

Tickets are £5 each and you can enter, or simply donate, through our Just Giving page

The Royal British Legion are feeling the effects of COVID-19. But they are continuing to provide help, advice and financial support to people in great need, and have amended many of their services to adapt the way that we help.

The truth is, however, that the overall impact of COVID-19 is going to be a major challenge for them.

Young or old, the impact of this virus touches everyone. Recently, they have been supporting members of the Armed Forces community who never imagined they would need support. Calls for assistance for accessing food have increased dramatically, as people need help to feed themselves and their families. They have already extended their Benefit, Debt and Money Advice Service to meet this increased demand.

At the same time, protecting older veterans who have done so much to protect us in the past, continues to be a major priority. They have made changes to services to make these isolation-friendly. They have also increased the number of staff in all six Care Homes and specialist dementia units, introduced new initiatives such as a Pen Pal and Telephone Buddies service to provide much-needed companionship and comradeship for veterans who are isolated in the home.

As they move beyond the initial crisis, they are preparing longer-term for an increase in demand on services such as Crisis Grants and Financial Advice, as people face the new challenge of economic hardship.

And of course, the impact has also reached the fundraising income.

Your donation could help to fund critical services, like Call Centres, so that they can continue to provide financial assistance and crisis support during COVID-19. It could also contribute to food vouchers for veterans and their families in crisis.

It is your continued support that helps us to ensure we are there for our Armed Service community, supporting the serving and ex-serving personnel, and their families who rely on us today. Thank you for your support.