THE Royal British Legion has opened its new drop-in advice centre in Colchester High Steeet.
The Pop In centre – the name is a play on the legion’s poppy emblem – is now up and running in part of the former Angel Court council offices.
It offers advice and support to ex-service personnel, as the legion has always done, but is also open to anyone who wants to find out more about its work.
Indeed, area manager Kate Green said one of the reasons the legion moved to an office in such a prominent location was to give it a more visible presence.
She added: “For too long, we’ve hidden away, so the general public still doesn’t know what we do. I want people to come in and ask questions about what we do.”
The charity is also changing the way it helps ex-service people turning to it for help.
It used to simply offer advice and help. Now it also tries to teach them how to do things for themselves.
The new centre has computers on which visitors can learn how to do things such as paying bills.
Former soldier Will Gallagher, 70, turned to the legion after moving into sheltered accommodation in May.
He said: “My savings were gone. I didn’t have much money.”
He contacted the Royal British Legion and within days, it had found him a fridge freezer and an oven for his new home.
He added: “Now I’m self-sufficient.
It would have been difficult without the legion.
“I didn't know anything about this side of the legion before.”
Will joined the Army in 1961, just before his 17th birthday and served as a driver in Germany, Aden and Singapore.
He said: “I think the legion is excellent. This is a great opportunity for people to come in.”
The legion has taken over three floors of the building. with upstairs space transformed into conference rooms and offices for the Royal British Legion’s Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire operations.
The centre was fficially opened by Colchester mayor John Elliott and is now on the lookout for volunteers to work there.
To get involved, call into the office, during office hours, Monday to Friday, from 10am until 4pm.
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