Community Aid

The good news
Poppy Calls is a free household repair and installation service run by The British Legion which provide a free dedicated handy-person service to those who cannot carry out small repairs or minor alterations to their homes. They use their own trusted and trained fitters and work in partnership with other specialist agencies. They will do such things as putting up a shelf, curtain rail or grab rails. Change light bulbs and tap washers. Fit locks and other security items as well as smoke alarms. They also install care phones and key safes. The list is not exhaustive and it is worth a quick call to see if they can help.

The bad news (for some of us at least)
The service is only available to people who have served in the armed forces for at least seven days and their widows, widowers, cohabiting partners or civil partners.

You can contact them at
By phone: - Legionline 08457 725 725 or 01480 478 031
By Email: – homesupportadmin@britishlegion.org.uk
By post: - Poppy Calls Centre, The Royal British Legion, Suite 2, Nelson House, Alington Road, Little Barford, St Neots, Bedfordshire PE19 6YH.

It’s worth noting that all their fitters drive branded Poppy Call vans (you can’t miss them) and carry Identity cards If you have ever bought a poppy, you now know where some of the money goes.

WELL DONE THE ROYAL BRITSH LEGION

Shops must take old batteries - Aug 2008

As from the 26 September 2008, retailers will be forced to accept used batteries from the public free of charge, even if replacements are not being bought. The requirement is stipulated under the European Union Batteries Directive, which aims to prevent harmful materials such as mercury, lead and cadmium contained in batteries from ending up in landfill sites.

The rule will apply to any shop selling batteries, including convenience newsagents, stores and supermarkets. The only stipulation is that the type of batteries being returned must be available for sale in the shop. Shops will not have to dispose of the batteries. This will fall to the manufactures, who will be responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recycling and th environmental disposal of the waste batteries.

Click on www.ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries for more information.