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The Royal British Legion supports all ex-service personnel and their dependents who are "in need", and I have never heard of anyone who qualifies being turned away. The £28m raised by this years Poppy Appeal will go about halfway to funding the total spend this year.
I have walked the streets of Oxford talking to the homeless, and yes, half of the homeless men are ex-service, but when they are told to approach the Legion for help, most of them choose not to, however, those that do receive life changing help and on-going support.
You don't have to be a member of the Legion to get help, just ex-service or ex-service dependent and in need.
There is a local telephone number that will put anyone directly in touch with their local Legion Welfare Officer - 08457-725725
If you really care, get involved with the Legion in your locality and help to make a real difference.

- Ian, Midlands

E Reed: Call the Brit Legion. They will house you and pay the bond and a few months rent. And get you pretty much anything else you need, food and clothing vouchers etc.
It's not charity, it's what you are entitled too.

- J, London

come on Fiona you were quick to tell me I was wrong to knock the poppy factory now answer the question HOW MANY of the flats are occupied by ex service/dependants who also work in the factory

- Wilkinson, brandon suffolk uk

to alex Mcakenna Manchester. Please dont stop buying poppies it is not the British Legion itself that is being shot at but the poppy factory and its managment that have broken away from the principles it was set up for and the trustees should be doing what they are there for ie overseeing a charity or are they also just part of The British Legion INDUSTRIES a name wich implies a business for profit

- Wilkinson, brandon suffolk uk

So what else is new? I went to Richmond Housing this week and requested a 2 bedroom for my wife and I because I have injuries from service as a Royal Marine Commando and need a seperate bedroom Richmond was my last address in UK I was advised a couple can only have a one bedroom flat as there were no provisions for injured veterans in the system and I should try Kingston as I had "no connection" to Richmond I was the only person in the office that appeared to have a connection to England let alone Richmond. Years ago I was removed from the council waiting list because as a Royal Marine I had left the coutry "voluntarily"to fight in Malaysia

- E Reed, London,UK

Fiona, you say the poppy factory is not part of the Royal British Legion, why do they call themseves the Royal British Legion poppy factory, I couldnt open a grocers and call myself Tesco Ltd this would be a fraud I suspect, and are you sure half the flats are rented to diabled ex sevice dependents I have been told very few are and at least one is housing a manager from the factory, if you are part of the managment as I suspect you will know and perhaps enlighten us, How many are let to disabled ex service and howmany of them do work in the factory after all that is what they are for and not for profit no matter what the cause

- Wilkinson, brandon suffolk uk

It is not only the letting of the flats that is wrong with the poppy factory what about the two machines that are being installed in maidstone in order the management can further reduce the work force and to add insult to injury why do the management who I'm told have never served in the services state "I have been told by insiders working there, there are no service persoal capable of doing management jobs" and does any one know how many of the workers are ex service very few I am told

- Wilkinson, brandon suffolk uk

Obviously you didn't feel the need to research too deeply when you present the Poppy Factory as a part of the British Legion. They are two independent charities which is why the Factory makes wreaths for many occasions, not just the Poppy Appeal.

Also, have you not thought that the reason they are still able to give half the flats to their disabled workers is because they are subsidised so heavily by the full price flats?
This is Richmond we're talking about for Gods sake. Most of the workers WOULD be homeless if it wasn't for the cheap flats.

Why you feel the need to present the Legion and the Poppy Factory as sinister money-grabbing organisations is beyond me. But this is not journalism when you haven't even scratched below the surface or even *tried* to present a balanced piece.

Any feedback please do email me. We can't wait to here from you in the office!!

- Fiona, London

Not many ex servicemen needing a home then, still it keeps them on the street.

- Wills, Soton

What, then, is the POINT of the British Legion? If they feel they are now simply a property-owning business, why should we feel obliged to buy their poppies?
Once the bean-counters take over, all is lost.

- Alex Mckenna, Manchester

"This is not unusual and there is a big problem that needs to be addressed. There are thousands of council properties sublet in London. Thousands more council tennants have lodgers paying them rent. It seems like no one wants to do anything about it."

I agree with the poster about the subletting but having a lodger if you're local authority or housing association tenant is perfectly legal. Still, I don't see what this has to do with a registered charity not fulfilling its remit. Care to explain?

Personally, I think the British Legion should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves but it seems that shame is an outmoded concept these days.

- LMD, North London

Is this the same British Legion that raises huge sums of money each November in donations and poppy sales? That doesn't then share that cash with the other servicemen charities? Don't know why we are surprised really.

At time when our servicemen fight for every small thing when they come back injured, this is shameful behaviour.

- Lone Gunman, Anywhere by here

I am shocked by the British Legion's attitude to ex servicemen in this instance. If I tell you that two thirds of homeless people in Oxford are ex servicemen, you may estimate how many people would be very glad if the Legion would return those flats to the purpose for which they were intended.

- Ladywholunches, London

On the face of it this is wrong, but if, by letting out a few flats for £1200/month they are able to rent in more accommodation than they let out (just about feasible)then it is justified - just.

- Jeremy E, London

This is not unusual and there is a big problem that needs to be addressed. There are thousands of council properties sublet in London. Thousands more council tennants have lodgers paying them rent. It seems like no one wants to do anything about it.

- Mike, London

Incredible! 'There are lots of charities whose objective is to support ex-servicesmen and provide accommodation.' Isn't that part of your remit, British Legion?! Weren't these homes actually built to support ex-servicemen?! Or is the British Legion intent on nothing more than turning a profit these days and paying its staff, rather than meeting its duties? As a nation, we really have lost our way, haven't we? Shame on you, British Legion! My grandfathers would have been utterly disgusted with the response you have given here.

- Middleclassmumabouttorevolt, Nottingham

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