The 2020 Poppy Appeal has launched in Wiltshire, and people have been urged to back it in a new and novel way.

The money raised this year will enable the Royal British Legion to continue its vital work delivering life-long support to service and ex-service personnel and their families through hardships, injuries and bereavements.

Wiltshire community fundraiser, Ally Crichton, explained: “Like so many things this year, the Appeal has to adapt to the threat of Covid-19 and we are asking the public to support us like never before, because every poppy counts.

"Whilst the pandemic has impacted the ways in which we deliver the Poppy Appeal in Wiltshire, our community of staff, volunteers, partners and suppliers have been working together to ensure that the 2020 Poppy Appeal is able to go ahead and we can all take part in Remembrance activity.

“People may have to do something different to support the Poppy Appeal this year, including taking part in remote activity like ordering poppies through the post for your neighbours and local community, printing a poppy and displaying it in your window, or undertaking a virtual Poppy Run, but every poppy counts so we are asking people to please support in any way you can.”

The Legion uses donations in many ways including providing crisis grants, sport and art based recovery programmes, specialist dementia care, and advising and supporting with benefits and money issues.

The Royal British Legion’s Director of Fundraising Claire Rowcliffe added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had an overwhelming impact on people’s livelihoods and way of life, leaving some in the Armed Forces community in dire need of urgent help and support.

“The Legion’s work is more vital than ever as we support our community through additional hardships from those struggling with social isolation, financial difficulties and unemployment, to those who have lost loved ones or are facing the threat of homelessness. Every poppy counts.”

The Legion is asking the public to show their support remotely in line with Covid-19 restrictions by ordering poppies through the post for their neighbours and local community, printing a poppy and displaying it in their window, or undertaking a virtual Poppy run.

Fundraising ideas for this year’s Appeal can be found at www.rbl.org.uk/poppyappeal