News

17 May 2018

Poppy Scotland

Events, government, Scotland

Cabinet Secretary helps launch special centenary poppy

Keith Brown MSP visited Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, in Edinburgh, earlier today to help launch a stunning new commemorative poppy, which will be distributed and worn during the 2018 Scottish Poppy Appeal.

As part of the leading Armed Forces charity’s programme of activity to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, Poppyscotland has commissioned a Centenary Poppy, which has the text “1918-2018” embossed in gold across the traditional and iconic red paper poppy. It will be the first change to the poppy in decades.

16 May 2018

Poppy Scotland

Events, fundraising, Remembrance, Scotland

Volunteers needed to make Aberdeen Poppy Day a day to remember

It was a fun event that captured the imagination of the city in 2017, but organisers of this year’s Aberdeen Poppy Day are already hard at work behind the scenes to make it even bigger and better this time around. And to boost this worthwhile event further, they are sending out a plea in the hope of recruiting more volunteers.

Matt Fyfe, who is the Poppyscotland Area Organiser for Aberdeen, said: “We have a great team of volunteers here in Aberdeen, but we need a few more willing individuals or groups to come forward to lend a hand on the day.

11 May 2018

Poppy Scotland

Events, fundraising, Music, Scotland, Serving, Welfare

Scotland’s state band comes to Kilmarnock

Scotland’s best-known military band, which is in the midst of its first-ever national tour, is all set to perform in Kilmarnock after receiving a warm welcome today from the Provost.

The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland is performing at seven venues across the country as part of its “Walking with Heroes” centenary tour which is aiming to raise tens of thousands of pounds for leading Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.

Scotland’s State Band, as it is also known, will be performing at the Kilmarnock Grand Hall on June 15th, but, earlier today, members of the Band local to the area joined East Ayrshire Provost Jim Todd and the Poppyscotland team to spread the word about the eagerly anticipated concert.

11 May 2018

Defence Medical Welfare Service, Poppy Scotland

Collaboration, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare, WW2

Veterans to return to World War Two scene of Arctic Convoys

Three veterans in their nineties will travel to Wester Ross today to attend a special annual ceremony on Sunday to commemorate the Russian Arctic Convoys of the Second World War; an event that claimed 3,000 lives.

The trio, who are making the trip thanks to the Unforgotten Forces project which supports older veterans and their families in Scotland, have become close friends and will also enjoy a three-night stay at a hotel in Gairloch as part of a new “Break Away” service.

Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, which brought the Western Allies together to provide essential support and supplies to the Soviet forces.

8 May 2018

Poppy Scotland

Awareness, Mental Health, Scotland, Veterans, Welfare

Poppyscotland open day to raise awareness of mental health issues

Poppyscotland is to host an open day at its Ayrshire Welfare Centre, with the aim of reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, and to promote the mental health support services which are available to the Armed Forces Community in the area.

The event, which is taking place on Thursday, 17th May 2018 from 11am-3pm, will bring people together in an informal setting to meet with specialist providers, and to help them understand what support is available and how to access it. All serving, or former serving personnel in the Ayrshire area, including Reservists and family members, are more than welcome to come along.

25 April 2018

Poppy Scotland

Remembrance, WW1, WW2

ANZACs and Gallipoli remembered at touching service

In a touching show of comradeship and remembrance today, representatives from all sides came together to attend the annual ANZAC and Gallipoli Day Service at the Scottish National War Memorial, at Edinburgh Castle, organised by Legion Scotland.

Observed on the 25th of April each year, ANZAC Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.

15 March 2018

Poppy Scotland

Challenge, Scotland, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Soldiers get on their bikes to launch Poppyscotland sportive

Soldiers from 2 SCOTS were ready to ride them on the beaches as they get on their bikes in East Lothian to help launch the 2018 Poppyscotland Sportive. The annual mass participation cycling event later this year aims to raise funds for the leading Armed Forces charity and takes place in and around the county. Last year, more than 700 riders took part, raising nearly £50,000, but, in 2018, Poppyscotland is hoping to hit the 1,000-rider barrier.

26 October 2017

Poppy Scotland

fundraising, Launch, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare

Fundraising Veteran joins pupils to launch 2017 Scottish Poppy Appeal

A veteran and Poppyscotland beneficiary was joined by primary school pupils at the old Forth crossing today to launch the 2017 Scottish Poppy Appeal.

Corporal Andrew McIntosh, 44, who served for 14 years with the 22nd Cheshire Regiment and saw service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and The Gulf, is no stranger to doing his bit for the Armed Forces charity after he travelled from John O’Groats to Land’s End on his mobility scooter to raise £3,000.

Andy, from Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, was confined to a mobility scooter after being diagnosed with a very rare and serious vascular condition in 2009. Poppyscotland provided him with an electric-powered vehicle to give him more independence – and Andy was only too keen to show his gratitude.

15 August 2017

Poppy Scotland

Campaign, government, Scotland, Veterans, Welfare

Poppy Factory celebrates living wage commitment

Its team of 41 Armed Forces veterans hand assemble more than five million poppies and 12,000 wreaths every year, but now Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory (LHPF) can add another feather to its cap after becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer.

The commitment by LHPF to the Living Wage will ensure that all staff – regardless of whether they are direct employees or working on a third-party contractual basis – receive a minimum hourly wage of £8.45. This rate is significantly higher than the statutory minimum rate for over-25s of £7.50 per hour introduced earlier this year.

14 August 2017

Poppy Scotland

Event, Remembrance, Scotland, Veterans, WW1

Passchendaele parade provides poignant reminder

Thousands of people from across the country descended on the town of Crieff today to watch a poignant parade and service to mark the 100-year commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele – a conflict that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Allied soldiers.

The national event, which launched the wider ‘Crieff Remembers’ fortnight and was supported by Armed Forces charity Legion Scotland, featured a parade through the town with more than 150 veterans and serving soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Scotland taking part. There were also fundraisers from Poppyscotland on hand to raise money for the charity’s life-changing support to the Armed Forces community.

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