The first week of June marks the UK’s annual National Volunteers’ Week, an opportunity for organisations to publicly celebrate their volunteers.

Volunteers have made a significant contribution to RBLI for many years. The support various support from our volunteers directly impacts not only the lives of those we support but the wider community too.

Although RBLI’s Volunteering Programme is still largely scaled back in response to the Coronavirus restrictions, we have been fortunate to have some fantastic support from individuals where it has been safe to do so, ensuring that our organisation can continue to provide support to the Armed Forces community, people with disabilities and those who are out of work.

The Team at RBLI are overwhelmed by the dedication and commitment volunteers show across our organisation and would like to extend our thanks to those who have given up their time to support us.

We will be sharing our volunteering stories over on Facebook during Volunteer’s Week, make sure you take a look.

Last week RBLI celebrated #WorldBeeDay, by unveiling our new bee hives and allotment project on RBLI Village.

The Positive Pathways – Purpose, wellbeing and independence through gardening project offers veterans the chance to take up gardening, learn how to grow fresh organic fruit and vegetables and discover the art of beekeeping, hopefully produce some honey and also pollen and beeswax that will be used for cleaning and beauty products in RBLI’s own Base Camp Café.

We have opened up this opportunity to our supporters and hope to encourage everyone to come and experience some time on the allotment, from novices to keen gardeners, learn new skills and pass on knowledge with RBLI Veterans.

If you would like to volunteer your services to help with the setting up and running of the allotment, please email lisa.kempton@rbli.co.uk

This project has been funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, part of the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing programme.

Our veterans have been very busy creating a whole new range of Tommy products to spruce up your garden this Summer.

If you haven’t already, check out the range below!

As places start to open up again, so has the events world. We finally have the go ahead to take part in live events. We have several half marathons coming up over the next few months so why not join #TeamBrave and take on a new challenge to beat the lockdown blues.

London Landmarks Half Marathon – Sunday 1 August
Hackney Half Marathon – Sunday 26 September
Royal Parks Half Marathon – Sunday 10 October

There are only a few spaces left on each event so sign up by emailing kirsty.fox@rbli.co.uk or via our website 

RBLI