British Legion

What would you think is a reasonable salary for the responsibility?

I always find this kind of thing hard, but then high positions deserve good salaries to get the best people.

It’s always been a quandary for me, I will continue to support them.

You can check for yourself what that percentage is.

The Royal British Legion raises money to help veterans and their families and many volunteers give of their time freely and willingly to raise money, not just for the Poppy Appeal.

To attract the right people, charities have to pay decent salaries and employing people in key positions is essential as they cannot be run on fresh air and by volunteers alone.

Thank goodness there are so many people out there who are not mean-spirited.

I think this is much the same for all the big Charities which why I try to give to little local charities.

It's always a difficult one this. People who run charities full time obviously have to be salaried and if they paid less they would not attract quality staff. I was rather more disillusioned when I discovered that most charity Patrons (I'm talking about celebrities that front advertising campaigns) get paid hefty sums for it. That does rather stick in the throat.

I was going to say the same, Jackiest - I think all the big charities give large salaries to some of their employees. Not sure how this will ever change, as it could be argued that charities need to attract quality staff to promote their charity and bring in money by offering decent salaries to these people.
Like flappergirl I wonder why, though, it’s felt that paying celebrities huge sums is a good idea? Does their endorsement really bring in more money by attracting ordinary folk like you and me to give? I suppose it must do or they wouldn’t use them? (Although, in all honesty, I can’t say that my charitable contributions have been influenced by those charities using a celebrity to endorse their cause, but rather because I think their charity deserves a contribution from me).

I’ve got to agree with others. To front a large organization takes certain skills and there’s competition in the market, so decent payment has to be on offer.
It doesn’t bother me now and doesn’t affect my donations to those causes I think merit them.
I’m not sure employing celebrities makes much difference to donations though and could have the opposite effect.

glammagran -
I'm really appalled at these high salaries .
My friend and I have raised a great deal of money for the poppy appeal .
I haven't been able to do it as I haven't felt well enough .
I have felt so guilty over it .
She has continued .

This doesn't seem "over the top"

Poppy Appeal Manager - Hampshire North
The Royal British Legion
Basingstoke, Hampshire (On-site)
£28,458 to £31,620 per annum
Full-time
Permanent

I just read that the British Legion raised
48 million and spent 37 million pounds .
I suspend my belief in these figures , but
even so it's left a bitter taste in my mouth .
I must say that my reaction is surely not .
I was really fortunate with my pitch being very comfortable .
I sat in Marks and Spencers every day for a fortnight and the staff were so sweet to me bringing me teas and snacks .
It was hard work , but so enjoyable and I thought a very worthy cause .

even so it's left a bitter taste in my mouth

Why?

It was hard work , but so enjoyable and I thought a very worthy cause
It is and well done 🙂

It's left a bitter taste as many people are struggling to pay for their food and heating bills .
It isn't just the British Legion , who have been criticised for staff salaries other charities have as well .

They also give £10,000pa to Stonewall.

The RBL will help those who are struggling.

The salaries are not out of the norm and probably less than could be earned in industry.
How would these people pay their bills if they worked for free?

Allira

The RBL will help those who are struggling.

The salaries are not out of the norm and probably less than could be earned in industry.
How would these people pay their bills if they worked for free?

Very valid point!

Has anyone been to the Poppy Factory in Richmond?
It's very interesting, worth a visit.

www.poppyfactory.org/

I don't know about all the wasted millions , but I'm annoyed that the Royal British Legion wasted 100
,000 redesigning their iconic red poppy and pay 80,000 annually on the head of diversity .
Is there a whole diversity department ?
When asked they seemed not to know.
And so the wastage goes on ...

I wear a white poppy for peace. Something much needed now. You can get them from the Peace Pledge Union. I'm not contributing to an organisation that's paying out to Stonewall.

I was once allowed to shadow a top administrator for a day. I obviously can't say that this particular day was typical but I was left wondering what he did to justify his enormous salary.

I always thought the red poppy was already inclusive of all who died whatever their colour, sex etc. Now we have a multi coloured poppy, is nothing sacred anymore. I also read they have employed an inclusivity officer on a big salary, why, as I see no need. Remembrance Day is one day, gay pride already have one month.

Large salaries apart, can anyone tell me how the money being raised by the RBL is spent?
I ask because in the course of voluntary work, I met a great many former servicemen, living in difficult circumstances, who had been told that they were not eligible for help from the RBL.
If they were not eligible, then who is, and what are the charitable funds used for?

I'm not so bothered about salaries for the reasons already mentionedby others.

What has brassed me off this year is the poppy/pride flag. The poppy is to commemorate ALL those who died not just a section of them. I don't know about war time, but i do know that at one time, gays were not even allowed in the forces.

Before anyone has a dig in reply, I'm not overly happy about the ones with football shirts either.

sluttygran

Large salaries apart, can anyone tell me how the money being raised by the RBL is spent?
I ask because in the course of voluntary work, I met a great many former servicemen, living in difficult circumstances, who had been told that they were not eligible for help from the RBL.
If they were not eligible, then who is, and what are the charitable funds used for?

If they are not eligible for RBL help maybe they would be helped by Help the Heroes or the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens' charity.

I agree that charities have to pay market place salaries but I wonder whether RBL need 63 staff on £60,000+.