Meet Ellen – After serving in the Armed Forces, Ellen now gives back through her role as a Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal volunteer.
Earlier this year, we decided we wanted to honour some of the extraordinary Poppy Appeal volunteers who help raise vital funds for the Royal British Legion. The people who give their hours, their energy, and their hearts to support the Armed Forces community.
As a small token of recognition, we gifted ten of the first ever commemorative Poppy Pounds to ten committed RBL volunteers.
Today, we are able to share the words of volunteer Ellen Anderson, and to let her tell everyone how having served in the Armed Forces herself, she is happy to now be able to help give back through the RBL.
Can you tell me your name, where you’re from, and a little bit about your affiliation with the Royal British Legion?
My name’s Ellen Anderson. I live in Cardiff, and have been volunteering with the RBL since 2019.
How did you first get involved with the RBL?
I always knew I wanted to volunteer for a service charity when I retired, and I first started coming in to the RBL pop-in centre in Cardiff one day a week, but then Covid hit and volunteering became a bit difficult. The Poppy Appeal Manager came in one day and said they were looking for help to cover different areas of Cardiff and I volunteered to become a Poppy Appeal Organiser for the city centre, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
How long have you been fundraising for the RBL?
I’ve been fundraising for the RBL for 6 years now. I love what I’ve been doing and over the years have taken on more responsibility. The people in Cardiff are so generous. In the current year [2024/2025] my area of Cardiff City centre has raised over £60,000 for the Poppy Appeal, and I’m really proud of my team of volunteers who helped us achieve that.
What does it mean to you to support the RBL?
My husband and I both served, and I know people who’ve been helped by the RBL, so I’m very pleased to be able to give something back. Being involved in the charity helps keep that military connection in your life too, which is really nice. Remembrance and the Poppy is very important to me and I think of the brave service of people who help keep us safe on a daily basis. A lot of people think the Poppy means the First and Second World Wars, but for me it’s remembering people today too. During the Remembrance period, when I’m standing there for those two minutes silence, it’s people like that I remember, and that’s why I want to give back.
Have you seen the impact of the RBL’s work first-hand? Could you share an example?
Since I started volunteering for the Royal British Legion, I’ve met a number of people who tell me about the help they’ve received from the charity, including someone who was able to buy some furniture for her new home and someone who has been supported by the Admiral Nurses when she was caring for her husband who suffers from dementia. I also know someone who had an injury but was helped a great deal in coping with it following a trip to the RBL Recover Centre. It’s extremely encouraging to receive personal testimony from people who have sought help from the charity. It makes all our hard work workwhile.
What would you say to anyone considering volunteering for the charity?
DO IT! When you retire it’s a critical time in your life, and finding volunteer opportunities with the RBL gave me a purpose for getting up in the morning. It was a real lifeline! It keeps your brain active, you make friends, and you’re doing something that’s helping somebody else. It’s a win, win situation!
What do you think about this new coin issued in support of the RBL?
All too often, in the busyness of work, service can be forgotten and it’s good to see support for charities like the RBL. The coin itself is well-designed and I think this will bring it to the attention of collectors and the public. I’m delighted that the Westminster Collection is supporting the charity in this way.
Ellen is very passionate about the benefits of becoming an RBL volunteer, if her words have inspired you, you can click here to find out more about how you could volunteer with the Royal British Legion.
Or you can purchase your own Poppy Pound, with a percentage of each one sold going directly to the RBL. This coin marks a landmark moment in coin collecting: the first-ever British Isles commemorative 12-sided £1 coin. Click here to see the full range >>
