To stop the Royal British Legion closing the 4 Break Centres across the UK and Handy van Service.

Comments

#601

I want to keep this place open

(Antrim, 2019-11-21)

#602

I work at one and see the full benefits these places give to our ex and serving men and women... It has been an honour and pleasure to serve these ladies and gentlemen and I would very much like to continue to do so.

(Weston super mare, 2019-11-21)

#603

This is an absolute disgrace to close this establishment. What is going to happen to people without this it's not just for respite it's so much more than that. I can't believe that this is going to happen I bet the places down south are not closing. This is a southern decision it's outrageous and wrong to be doing this.

I really deplore this decision it's wrong on many levels.

(Southport, 2019-11-21)

#604

I am signing this because I think it's a disgrace that they are planning to close these centres down, especially Byng House in Southport. So many veterans enjoy their break in Southport as the staff are like family to them.

(Liverpool, 2019-11-21)

#605

They provide a welcome and much needed break for our benificarys and for some especially the lonely and isolated a great oppurtunity to feel wanted and they are still part of our community.

(New Mills, 2019-11-21)

#606

As a wife of an ex soldier we have spent many very happy times at Bennett House. My husband has a long term illness I myself have Parkinson’s disease and the chance to get away and spend quality time with each other is invaluable plus we have made many new friends. It’s a place where we forget our conditions and really get to just relax.

(Newtownards, 2019-11-21)

#612

Places like this are needed for family and veterans

(Sandy, 2019-11-21)

#613

Its the right thing to support veterans in Bridlington and keep the money raised there in Bridlington, this was decided just after WW1

(Bridlington, 2019-11-21)

#614

My best friend and her kids go here

(antrim, 2019-11-21)

#618

We have been here 2yrs ago and was much needn't break my girlfriend children have learning difficulties and this was a great place too come too (portrush) pls save this from closing

(Antrim, 2019-11-21)

#619

I believe that times remove this service would be an injustice to veterans of Northern Ireland and the UK

(Coleraine, 2019-11-21)

#621

I thought the Royal British Legion was to help our Veterans and their families. These people depend on the respite they get from places like this!!

(Bushmills, 2019-11-21)

#623

These are invaluable services which must be retained

(Newry, 2019-11-21)

#625

I'm signing because the RBL was set up to help service personnel and their families. Help is getting harder to obtain from the RBL despite donations still remaining in their £millions. These centres are essential for some veterans as well as serving personnel and should not be closed

(Weymouth, 2019-11-21)

#628

The number of security forces injured in n’ireland they need somewhere to go over 300,000 military were used in operation banner many are suffering

(Ballymoney, 2019-11-21)

#630

We need places like this so much to help and comfort people this is an essential issue we want it to continue supporting people and the staff do an amazing job please do not close this wonderful hotel

(BELFAST, 2019-11-21)

#631

These places are really needed !!

(Antrim, 2019-11-21)

#632

I served, am lucky not to need such support but so many who served unselfishly do and this country owes them an unimaginable debt.

(Lisburn, 2019-11-21)

#634

I’m a veteran and have used Bennett on several occasions and found it to be a lifeline for my wife and I. We made some great friendships and met some amazing people.

(Cookstown, 2019-11-21)

#638

I think it's a disgrace to talk of closing this house the people that depend on it are devastated let's keep it going

(Belfast, 2019-11-21)

#642

A very worthwhile cause....these centres should not be closed!

(Belfast, 2019-11-21)

#645

The RBL respite centres are a god send to people who are looking after ex service personnel who have served this country and suffer PTSD or are blind or suffer mobility issues. These places are needed.

(Swindon, 2019-11-21)

#649

I give freely for these vets and families to receive this care

(Weston Super Mare, 2019-11-21)

#654

I like the fact that the money I raise stays local also the respite facilities are much needed

(Weston-super-Mare, 2019-11-21)

#658

This is wrong in every sense of the word ! It’s a vital necessity for our much loved and respected veterans and family , I worked there for 10 years and only recently left so know first hand how break centres such as Byng House are Vital and Must stay , this cannot be allowed to happen.
Plus RBL got rid of case workers around 5 years ago and now they want to bring them back at the cost of the break centres! Makes no sense AT ALL .

(Liverpool, 2019-11-21)

#659

I don't agree with dicission. The British Legion foundation is built on welfare for serving soldiers, veterans and their families. Where will they go now. These centres are really needed.

(Sheffield, 2019-11-21)

#660

These places are very much needed for veterans to ease the stress of past service.
They are places where they can relax

(Carriçkfergus, 2019-11-21)

#662

the RBL has millions in its bank account but choose to close these vital centres...disgrace

(southport, 2019-11-21)

#663

The legion has forgotten its job

(Slough, 2019-11-21)

#665

This is shocking.

(Romsey, 2019-11-21)

#666

have stayed and a lot of oldes vets male and females etc over 50 to 80 have as a member of the rbl not been asked about this

(manchester, 2019-11-21)

#668

As a poppy appeal Organiser that’s what I work for maybe we could drop a line of senior base stallions that would cut a great deal of the budget

(Yorkshire, 2019-11-21)

#669

Veterans need these facilities

(Bridlington, 2019-11-21)

#672

These places are needed and should not be closed.

(Weston Super Mare, 2019-11-21)

#676

The RBL should be supporting these centres, not closing then down

(Shrewsbury, 2019-11-21)

#677

I'm signing because we need to look after our service men and women

(DUNGANNON, 2019-11-21)

#678

A valuable service is being proposed to cease. The Poppy Breaks have been a great asset to my wife and I, we have both said upon return home how mentally refreshed we felt and made many new friends that have stuck to this day. Many of those friends are in their 80's and 90's and we check on them (on the phone) weekly or fortnightly. Imagine how this has made them feel to lessen the social isolation coming from their stay at the centres. I'm in my 50's and love to listen to them. Many times I have welled up with their tales of what they went through. It is an honour to call them new friends. This is just my story, I imagine many others have similar stories.
These breaks fulfill mental wellbeing way beyond the week or fortnight of the stay, it can and does help out the users way beyond. You take that away and they will eventually end up back at square 1, feeling isolated!!!

(Lincoln, 2019-11-21)

#679

The RBL cutting a vital provision for us veterans is a disgrace

(Nefyn, 2019-11-21)

#681

The BL collect millions every year and have £70 million in reserves. They have a duty to ex-service personal.

(Belfast, 2019-11-21)

#682

As a member of the RBL I will find it difficult to continue supporting the Legion. It has been bad enough loosing our local meeting places. You are now trying to close down these Centres

(Warrington, 2019-11-21)

#688

My family had their first stay in Bennett House Portrush in July and it was second to none in every aspect and was a much needed break - has it now become the norm for the government/British army to screw over veteran's (and then they wonder why they have a recruitment crisis?)

(Portadown, 2019-11-22)

#689

The RBL get money to help vets, closing respite homes is not helping, maybe the top managers should take a pay cut.

(Donaghadee, 2019-11-22)

#690

There are no other breaks for veteran in the uk , useing the excuse cost is very poor whe you just need to look cosy hi salary payed to management

(Southport, 2019-11-22)

#693

This is trying to de British Northern Ireland

(Armagh, 2019-11-22)

#698

I was the chairman of my local club and they tried to close us down to sell it but we owned it. It cost the club a fortune in solicitors fees but of course we won. They are nothing but a bunch of money grabbing greedy people

(Middx, 2019-11-22)

#703

I oppose the closure of the Royal British Legion homes as a cost savings exercise..The people who will suffer most will be our Veterans. Care is not always about money. The Legion needs to rethink this strategy.

(Ballycastle, 2019-11-22)

#704

The reasons for signing this should be plainly obvious.

(Abergele, 2019-11-22)

#708

By closing these homes and discontinuing the Handy Van's Service the Powers That Be within the Royal British Legion have lost sight of who they Serve and their Duty of Care towards them. They are making the very people they are supposed to be supporting more Vulnerable and isolated - for what purpose?

(Burntwood, 2019-11-22)

#711

Ex forces(Veterans) need this service, as well as serving military.

(PRESTATYN, North Wales, 2019-11-22)

#718

We were there

(Newtownabbey, 2019-11-22)

#723

Iam signing this because over the last 35years I have seen a continuing erosion of the values of the RBL of comradeship and service to the veterans of this country

(Porthleven, 2019-11-22)

#727

There should be more places not cutting them back the RBL gets loads of donations this is what it should be spent on .

(Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, 2019-11-22)

#737

This facility of Bennett House is so much needed in northern Ireland as veterans over here have suffered so much.. And to top it the staff of Bennett House are truly amazing people.. Who are so much hands on..

(Crossgar, 2019-11-22)

#738

Cut the CEO's pay not the rest homes

(CRAMLINGTON, 2019-11-22)

#739

It s a disgrace no consultation with the people who payed for this service

(Belfast, 2019-11-22)

#741

This should no be happening,

(Barnsley, 2019-11-22)

#742

The money was raised for veterans and not to pay big salaries etc.

(Ormskirk, 2019-11-22)

#749

These people are forever in our debt and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for the job they do.

(Armagh, 2019-11-22)

#755

I’m ex forces and our boys and girls go to hell and back for this country , and deserve all the care can get . We send these people of to war and they need to be cared for when they return

(Bath, 2019-11-22)

#757

I am shocked at the proposed closer of these centres considering the wealth of the RBL. Our veterans at times need them without where else do they go.

(Lurgan, 2019-11-22)

#761

We have had several breaks at Byng house over the years, they were a chance for our family to relax and spend quality time together.
When you have a child with a life threatening condition, that time is invaluable. Please reconsider this, and take some of the extortionate bonuses back from the directors instead!

(Stockport, 2019-11-22)

#764

We need these places and services to help our physically and mentally injured servicemen and ex servicemen with their needs.

(Llanelli, 2019-11-22)

#767

Our veterans need a respite break

(Lisburn, 2019-11-22)

#770

I need Poppy Breaks as a disabled war veteran, unable to afford holidays.
I have been a fund raise and a BL member for many years.
This is the wrong way to go about saving money.
Where is all the annual poppy money going ??

(Oldham, 2019-11-22)

#771

Keep them open B L supposed to support the armed forces

(Halifax, 2019-11-22)

#772

This is a much needed resource for the veterans we meet everyday and cannot be closed. There will be no much needed respite facility on the east coast if this closes in Bridlington.

(Hull, 2019-11-22)

#774

These rest/break/holiday homes are so very important for all veterans and their families and it enables them to make new friends, relax and a chance to be themselves with others who understand

(Belfast, 2019-11-22)

#775

This care home is so important to the resident. They need the respite care it provides.

(Southport Merseyside, 2019-11-22)

#777

I am a RBL member and ex forces this is just madness to close the welfare homes. These serve members and families to have a holiday and interact with other exforces this helps the healing process.

(Weston S Mare, 2019-11-22)

#780

This service is needed so come on RBL use your reserve cash to keep it going

(Manchester, 2019-11-22)

#783

These homes are much needed to give breaks to older disabled veterans a break

(Blackpool, 2019-11-22)

#785

Bennett House is the only respite accomodation we have in NI for RBL members and their families. While there are other causes we could save money towards, a weeks respite goes along way to helping members re-couperate and find a meaning for life again and with the help of the marvelous staff this is achieved on every occasional. A set amount of money to pay could surely offset the cost and save Bennett House and the marvelous staff there in. Please don't close our Break Centre ✋

(PORTADOWN, 2019-11-22)

#791

Its wrong to turn your back on the vets,that is what you are payed to do ,so do it.

(Gosport, 2019-11-22)

#794

These facilities need to remain available for Veterans and their families.

(Hull, 2019-11-22)

#800

We need the RBL to use it's money on these vital services and not keep it in the bank !

(Liverpool, 2019-11-22)