Poppy Appeal could miss out on £18k in donations

The Royal British Legion said its annual Poppy Appeal in Suffolk could miss out on about £18,000 of donations this year due to a lack of volunteers.

Some areas of the county are still without a designated Poppy Appeal organiser, with the launch of the annual fundraising drive just weeks away, on 22 October.

Mandi Cox-Osborne, Poppy Appeal manager for Suffolk, fears the area may struggle to contribute in the same way this year as it has previously.

The appeal supports serving armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families and in 2025 generated £56.6 million nationally.

Cox-Osborne told the BBC that Rattlesden, Botesdale, Yoxford, Lavenham, Bildeston, and Gosbeck are still without an organiser.

"It is a concern, and it's not without trying to advertise, but we could lose about £18,000," she said.

"That is a staggering amount of money for us, so it's important we try to get those donations to support our armed forces community."

Organisers order stock, manage a team and collect, count and bank donations.

Cox-Osborne urged people to "come forward".

"It's a fantastic way of giving, a humbling experience, rewarding, an opportunity to meet new people and it makes a difference," she added.

Marion Venables has been a Poppy Appeal organiser in Mildenhall for four years and in the past year alone has helped raise more than £28,700.

While the Poppy Appeal runs from October to November, Venables regularly organises fundraising events throughout the year to bring the community together.

She was inspired to join after seeing how the charity had helped her late uncle, who was an RAF pilot.

"I am very proud to wear the RBL colours," she said.

"You've got nothing to lose, you've got so much to gain for others, so just give it a go - it's really great. I love it."

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