The Royal British Legion has announced that it will provide grants to support the Armed Forces Community during the Cost-of-Living Crisis.
Grants of up to £2,400 are available to help UK Armed Forces veterans and their families who are struggling to pay their bills due to the cost-of-living crisis. The initiative will provide non-repayable emergency grants of up to £200 a month for up to 12 months.
The funding is being made available through the Royal British Legion’s Everyday Needs Grants Programme to support people who need help with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs.
The following are eligible for support:
o Serving personnel, or those who have previously served, who have received one day of pay and were aged 16 or over at the time of service.
o Reserve or Auxiliary personnel, or those who have previously served.
o Those who have served with the Mercantile Marine afloat in hostile waters.
o Current or previous full-time members of Allied Civil Police Forces.
o Those entitled to the campaign medal issued to the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force to those giving them direct support or under their command.
o Any member of Voluntary Aid Societies who has served full-time and in uniform in direct support of the United Kingdom Armed Forces.
o Any British subject (by birth or otherwise) who has served one day in the Forces of an Allied nation during hostilities and received one day of pay from that nation.
o Any British subject (by birth or otherwise) who served in a resistance organisation of an Allied nation during hostilities in which the United Kingdom Armed Forces were engaged.
o Any person who served in the Home Guard for at least six months, or in a Bomb and Mine Disposal Unit for at least three months, and
o Any person who was awarded the Defence Medal in respect of service in the Home Guard or in a Bomb and Mine Disposal Unit.
The Royal British Legion can also provides support for Commonwealth citizens who are residents in the UK as well as past and present members of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their families.
Further information about the Cost-of-Living Grants Programme can be found on the Royal British Legion website, where details of its other grant programmes are also available.
Applications may be made at any time and should be assessed within 5 days of submission.
The Royal British legion has branches across the UK. You can find your closest branch by going to the ‘Contact Us’ page on the Legion’s website.
If you can't find a service near you, please call the Legion’s Helpline on 0808 802 8080, which is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm.
