Helen Grant, Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald recently met with The Royal British Legion in Parliament to discuss support for the Armed Forces community in Maidstone and The Weald and to show her support for the outstanding work which the charity undertakes.
The Royal British Legion is the country's largest Armed Forces charity, and provides support for many thousands of veterans, serving personnel and their families. Helen Grant attended a Legion event in Parliament and met with local Area Manager Craig Spence to discuss current issues facing the Armed Forces community.
Legion research has found that the biggest issues currently experienced by working-age members of the UK ex-Service community include hearing loss and difficulty finding employment; among over-75s, physical health and care are among the most common problems. The Legion successfully campaigned for a £10m hearing loss fund, supports career transition through its Civvy Street website and delivers practical assistance through community outreach services and six care homes. A network of 16 high street 'Pop In' centres has also been developed to make it easier for beneficiaries to seek help.
The RBL provides support to veterans in Maidstone and the Weald through regular meetings at their branch in Marsham Street. The county Headquarters is also not far away in Aylesford and local people can access the charity's full range of services from this location.
Craig Spence, the Legion's Area Manager for Maidstone and The Weald, said "I was delighted to see Helen Grant MP and we were grateful that she took the time to drop in. The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans and their families. This latest parliamentary event offered a great opportunity to spread the word about the range of services we provide, and it was a pleasure to discuss this in detail with Helen".
Helen Grant MP added, "It was a great pleasure to meet staff from The Royal British Legion and to learn more about the work being done for service personnel and their families in Maidstone and the Weald. As the Mother of a former royal marine, I know first-hand that Members of the Armed Forces community make huge sacrifices in service of our country. I am proud to support the work of the Legion in honouring the memory of the fallen and building a better future for the living."