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| British Legion row over women's section risks revolt by poppy sellers British Legion row over women's section risks revolt by poppy sellers | |
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| The Royal British Legion, the welfare charity for armed forces veterans and their families, faces a revolt from thousands of its volunteer poppy sellers amid an ongoing row over controversial plans to close down its women’s section. | The Royal British Legion, the welfare charity for armed forces veterans and their families, faces a revolt from thousands of its volunteer poppy sellers amid an ongoing row over controversial plans to close down its women’s section. |
| Several of its county and local women’s section branches have dissolved their organisations in protest at the legion’s proposal last year to merge the women’s section into the charity’s mainstream national organisation. | Several of its county and local women’s section branches have dissolved their organisations in protest at the legion’s proposal last year to merge the women’s section into the charity’s mainstream national organisation. |
| Critics have dubbed the charity’s male-dominated board of trustees “dictatorial” and “pre-suffragette”, claiming it tried to foist the changes on the women’s branches without consultation. | Critics have dubbed the charity’s male-dominated board of trustees “dictatorial” and “pre-suffragette”, claiming it tried to foist the changes on the women’s branches without consultation. |
| The legion’s women’s section, which has been in existence as a semi-independent part of the charity for 95 years, has nearly 30,000 volunteers who play a huge role in running the charity’s annual poppy appeal, which raised £48.5m in 2014-15. | The legion’s women’s section, which has been in existence as a semi-independent part of the charity for 95 years, has nearly 30,000 volunteers who play a huge role in running the charity’s annual poppy appeal, which raised £48.5m in 2014-15. |
| The merger would diminish the distinctive historical role of women in the legion, say critics, while the women’s section would no longer have an automatic place on the board of trustees, and may lose the honour of laying a wreath at the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. | The merger would diminish the distinctive historical role of women in the legion, say critics, while the women’s section would no longer have an automatic place on the board of trustees, and may lose the honour of laying a wreath at the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. |
| There is also a feeling among some members that the merger reflects a more centralised and corporate approach to the running of the London-based charity that has left it out of touch with the wishes of many of its ordinary members. | There is also a feeling among some members that the merger reflects a more centralised and corporate approach to the running of the London-based charity that has left it out of touch with the wishes of many of its ordinary members. |
| We will not stand for that kind of dictatorship | We will not stand for that kind of dictatorship |
| Some volunteers have vowed to stop fundraising for the legion because they are infuriated by being allegedly kept in the dark about the proposals, which were presented without warning to branches a week before Christmas. | Some volunteers have vowed to stop fundraising for the legion because they are infuriated by being allegedly kept in the dark about the proposals, which were presented without warning to branches a week before Christmas. |
| Hazel Kingswood, chair of the Aylsham, Norfolk women’s section branch, who has been a legion volunteer for 34 years, said the charity had alienated thousands of women though its mishandling of the proposed merger. | Hazel Kingswood, chair of the Aylsham, Norfolk women’s section branch, who has been a legion volunteer for 34 years, said the charity had alienated thousands of women though its mishandling of the proposed merger. |
| “We are all volunteers,” she said. “When [the charity] starts telling us what we have got to do, we will not stand for that kind of dictatorship. | “We are all volunteers,” she said. “When [the charity] starts telling us what we have got to do, we will not stand for that kind of dictatorship. |
| “If I wasn’t so angry I would sit down and weep. I have got women in their 80s and 90s who feel completely demoralised by what has happened.” | “If I wasn’t so angry I would sit down and weep. I have got women in their 80s and 90s who feel completely demoralised by what has happened.” |
| She said the Aylsham branch would now set up as a separate group and fundraise for other local armed forces charities: “It is not looking good for the Royal British Legion: they have shot themselves in the foot.” | She said the Aylsham branch would now set up as a separate group and fundraise for other local armed forces charities: “It is not looking good for the Royal British Legion: they have shot themselves in the foot.” |
| Aylsham is one of 15 of the 26 women’s section branches in Norfolk to have voted to close since the announcement, and a number of county branches have shut down in protest in recent months. | Aylsham is one of 15 of the 26 women’s section branches in Norfolk to have voted to close since the announcement, and a number of county branches have shut down in protest in recent months. |
| There has been a groundswell of grassroots members’ anger in recent months over fears that the legion’s female volunteers are being “cast aside”. A women’s section petition in February called for a reversal of the merger plan, which had been pushed ahead “without our consent, communication or forewarning”. | There has been a groundswell of grassroots members’ anger in recent months over fears that the legion’s female volunteers are being “cast aside”. A women’s section petition in February called for a reversal of the merger plan, which had been pushed ahead “without our consent, communication or forewarning”. |
| The charity says the merger is essential if it is to comply with regulation and governance requirements, cut costs, and focus resources on beneficiaries. | The charity says the merger is essential if it is to comply with regulation and governance requirements, cut costs, and focus resources on beneficiaries. |
| Its proposals were strongly opposed by the legion’s women’s section annual conference in April, while a subsequent members’ conference ordered the legion’s board of trustees to review its plans. | Its proposals were strongly opposed by the legion’s women’s section annual conference in April, while a subsequent members’ conference ordered the legion’s board of trustees to review its plans. |
| But a legion spokesman said it would be pressing ahead with the plan to close down the women’s section despite all the protests. | But a legion spokesman said it would be pressing ahead with the plan to close down the women’s section despite all the protests. |
| “Following discussions in June 2016, which took into consideration feedback from the 2016 annual conferences of both the women’s section and the legion membership, a joint team representing the legion and the women’s section has been formed to develop a plan for integration. | “Following discussions in June 2016, which took into consideration feedback from the 2016 annual conferences of both the women’s section and the legion membership, a joint team representing the legion and the women’s section has been formed to develop a plan for integration. |
| “The team will work together to identify potential issues brought about by the change, and the aim will be to complete the integration of the women’s section by 1 October 2017.” | “The team will work together to identify potential issues brought about by the change, and the aim will be to complete the integration of the women’s section by 1 October 2017.” |
| Asked if the legion regretted the branch closures, or believed bosses had mishandled the changes, the spokesman said: “If members wish to close it is their right to do so. However, these closures have not come about by changes made to the women’s section.” | Asked if the legion regretted the branch closures, or believed bosses had mishandled the changes, the spokesman said: “If members wish to close it is their right to do so. However, these closures have not come about by changes made to the women’s section.” |
| Despite the anger among regional volunteers, the national chair of the women’s section and legion board trustee Marilyn Humphry insisted that the charity’s leadership was united in its determination to find a consensual way forward. | Despite the anger among regional volunteers, the national chair of the women’s section and legion board trustee Marilyn Humphry insisted that the charity’s leadership was united in its determination to find a consensual way forward. |
| “The Royal British Legion and The Royal British Legion women’s section are currently working together on a plan that is amenable to both parties. | “The Royal British Legion and The Royal British Legion women’s section are currently working together on a plan that is amenable to both parties. |
| “The women’s section understands the need to integrate and the legion understands the need to take into account the wishes of the women’s section, and values the contribution its members make to our work with the armed forces community.” | “The women’s section understands the need to integrate and the legion understands the need to take into account the wishes of the women’s section, and values the contribution its members make to our work with the armed forces community.” |
| She added: “We are in a position where the trustees are listening to our concerns and I would not wish to see this jeopardised in any way.” | She added: “We are in a position where the trustees are listening to our concerns and I would not wish to see this jeopardised in any way.” |
| However, Sandra Saban, the chairman of Essex women’s section and a member of the women’s section central committee, said it was too little, too late: “We have raised a lot of money over the years for our beneficiaries and it is our beneficiaries we are worried about.” | However, Sandra Saban, the chairman of Essex women’s section and a member of the women’s section central committee, said it was too little, too late: “We have raised a lot of money over the years for our beneficiaries and it is our beneficiaries we are worried about.” |