Collectors Raise £1.5 Million for the Armed Forces community
At The Westminster Collection, we are incredibly proud to mark a major milestone in our long-established partnership with the Royal British Legion, built over more than two decades since 2004.
Thanks to the continued support of collectors, sales of our annual Remembrance and Poppy coins have now raised an extraordinary £1.5 million to support members of the Armed Forces community and their families.
Collecting with Purpose
Collectors continue to choose the commemorative coins for the care, detail, and meaning behind every design.
Each release is thoughtfully produced to honour the Armed Forces, allowing collectors to hold a personal and lasting connection to Remembrance through their collection.
It is a privilege to see these designs embraced by collectors who share our commitment to Remembrance and support for today’s Armed Forces community.
As we look back on the designs created since 2004, we hope you enjoy revisiting the coins that have helped shape this remarkable journey.
Turning Support into Real-World Impact
Last year alone, The Westminster Collection raised £111,000 for the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland, which could help 137 people in the Armed Forces community access specialist Benefit, Debt and Money Advice (BDMA) support to ease their financial burdens.
Jennie Anderson, RBL Head of Welfare – BDMA, explains:
“For many veterans and their families, financial crisis isn’t always something that builds slowly, it can arise without warning.
Key life events like bereavement, redundancy or relationships ending, bring some veterans and serving personnel to breaking point, facing eviction and unable to put food on the table.
Whilst help is often available, accessing it is complex, fragmented and difficult, making life without rising debt feel impossible.”
This is where the Royal British Legion’s Benefit, Debt and Money Advice Service plays a crucial role.
Their specialist advisers provide bespoke advice and information to members of the Armed Forces community, supporting beneficiaries with debt issues, appeals, and access to grants and benefits; helping to relieve their money troubles and bring stability and safety back into their lives.
In 2023–24, with help from the Royal British Legion’s BDMA service, struggling Armed Forces families went home with, on average, the financial equivalent of £7,467, helping them move out of crisis and regain control of their finances.
A Life Changed: Keith’s Story
The funds raised by The Westminster Collection help people like Keith.
When Keith left the RAF, his life took a difficult turn. Following the breakdown of his relationship, he struggled with alcohol and drugs and accumulated significant debt. He could no longer afford to feed himself and owed his local council more than £10,000 in council tax. Fines alone wiped out his benefits each month.
A serious accident in 2017 worsened his depression and left him unable to work for months.
Keith recalls: “I was down to my last bag of rice, so I rang the Legion.”
The Royal British Legion’s Benefits, Debt and Money Advice team reviewed Keith’s situation and recognised that bankruptcy was the best route forward. They supported him through the process in 2020 and also helped with a benefits appeal — resulting in a £9,000 Universal Credit back payment just before Christmas.
Keith said: “Since the bankruptcy, I have been able to get my nose in front for the first time in years. I don’t need the food banks and I even paid my council tax in one go. I have money left over at the end of the month now. I can’t thank Paul James and the Legion’s BDMA team enough — their help just made me so humble.”
Keith’s story is just one example of how veterans can rebuild their lives with the help of the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland. In 2023–24, the Benefit, Debt and Money Advice service supported 1,314 households with benefit and debt issues.
Thanks to the continued support of partners like The Westminster Collection and our customers, vital services like this can continue to put security and stability back into veterans’ lives.
With Thanks and Looking Ahead
We are immensely proud of what has been achieved so far and deeply grateful to the Royal British Legion, Poppyscotland, and, above all, to our loyal collectors.
Your support enables collecting to be a force for good – helping to honour service, support families, and make a lasting difference to the lives of those who have served.
Over to you
We would love to see which Remembrance or Poppy-themed designs you have in your collection. Share your favourites in the comments below, and we’ll select some to win one of this year’s designs.
View the latest Poppy Coin Range by clicking below:
