Rushden Royal British Legion partners with local charity with new 'befriender' project and Poppy-covered minibus
The Rushden branch of the Royal British Legion has started a partnership with local charity Serve to give members the opportunity to tell their story using a new ‘befriending service.’
The Rushden branch of the Royal British Legion has announced the collaboration project between the two organisations.
A Royal British Legion spokesman said: “Currently, RBL Rushden branch is undertaking a collaborative project with Serve where some members who have got amazing stories to tell, whether it be their life story, a specific period or event, or even a brief story of their careers, will be taking up the befriending service, where a Serve volunteer comes to their home with an iPad or tablet, and beavers away typing, whilst they tell their story.
"They could even upload some of those treasured photographs that would not even leave the member’s house, visiting as many times as possible, and not just to get their story, but being a befriender.”
All of Serve’s befrienders are vetted through the disclosure barring service (DBS).
Serve, based in West Street, Rushden has been in operation for more than 40 years, providing assistance to older people and adults with disabilities, offering healthcare services to help assist those living independently, with a large portion of the people it serves being veterans.
The partnership also paved the way for the Royal British Legion to decorate one of the charity’s minibuses in Poppies and other Remembrance-inspired designs.
The Rushden RBL spokesman added: “Serve’s CEO, Tony Gibbs, approached RBL Rushden branch to see if the RBL is happy to pay for one of Serve’s minibuses to be covered with poppy livery, which can then be seen and stand out all around the town and district and be positioned at various spots when not in use, not to mention be visible up to and beyond Armistice Day.
"Fortunately, the RBL saw this as a great way of promoting the RBL and Poppy Appeal whilst at the same time promoting Serve.”
The minibus was displayed prominently at the service during Armistice Day at Rushden’s War Memorial on Tuesday.
The Royal British Legion says public feedback to seeing the minibus has been ‘very positive.’
More information about the befriending service can be found by contacting Serve at [email protected] or The Rushden RBL at [email protected].