THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORTTHE ROYAL 2017 & ACCOUNTS THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2 017 Cover.indd 1 01/05/2018 10:10 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 001_COVER_V2 210X297 84 Contents_and_Forward.indd 2 26/04/2018 12:27 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 002_CONTENTS + WELCOME_V1 210X297 84 CONTENTS Foreword 4 Financial overview 6 Trustees’ report 10 Independent auditor’s report 48 Statements of financial activities 52 Balance sheets 54 Cash flow statements 55 Notes to the accounts 56 3 Contents_and_Forward.indd 3 26/04/2018 12:27 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 003_CONTENTS + WELCOME_V1 210X297 84 FOREWORD annual meeting: we want to become a ‘team of teams’. Support takes many forms. The inspirational strength and determination of today’s Armed Forces community were on full display at the Invictus Games in Toronto, where we hosted 260 family members of those competing. The Legion’s campaigning work, ensuring that Government policy and services consider the needs of our Armed Forces personnel and their families, is another way we offer support. Our Count Them In campaign has also CHARLES BYRNE, Director General and TERRY WHITTLES, National Chairman ensured that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will recommend a This review gives us an opportunity challenge. The Royal British Legion new question about the Armed Forces to step back and remind ourselves of led a consortium of service charities community be included in the next why we’re here. The Royal British to bid for and win the contract to census in England and Wales. Legion has an extraordinary dual provide the Veterans’ Gateway. This purpose: we provide support for the new service provides a first point of Of course, despite developments in Armed Forces community in the here contact through telephone calls, email service provision and campaigning and now, while keeping alive the or live chat for any veteran who is keeping us busy in the present, we memory and legacy of those who unsure of where to turn to for help. never forget the past. This year, the have served. This puts those we serve first, ensuring centenary of the First World War has that they can find the support they marked some significant events. The best way to illustrate our support need from whichever organisation Passchendaele 100 attracted the role is through the stories of the is best able to provide it. This is nation’s attention. The Poppy Appeal, people the Legion has helped. People a significant step forward in despite all the fears that donations like Harris Tatakis, a former Royal collaboration across the sector. might decline over the years, actually Marine. By funding new medical raised more funds than ever before. treatment unavailable on the NHS, The key to making Veterans’ Gateway We also remembered the contribution we helped rebuild his life. a success will be collaboration with of women, with the Women at War our partner organisations. We often 100 event at the National Memorial Stories such as Harris’s and the others work well at a grassroots level. Arboretum. There was a real sense of in this report show the difference we Now we are putting more effort into spirited commemoration. Young and can make to people’s lives when we systematically and strategically old mixed. It was busy, buzzing and can find the help they need. There building these bridges more widely exciting. It was as much a celebration. are, however, more than 400 military between our organisations. The charities providing welfare support. goal is to achieve what was best We were also particularly proud to Making it easy for an individual to described with three words that struck co-host the unveiling by HM The find the services they need is a huge a chord with us at the Combat Stress Queen of the Iraq and Afghanistan 4 Contents_and_Forward.indd 4 01/05/2018 10:17 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 004_CONTENTS + WELCOME_V2 210X297 84 Memorial in London, marking 25 Keeping the focus on internal The Legion has a duty to remind years since the start of the conflicts. developments, we should mention the nation of that legacy and keep The number of families who attended our values review and the launch of it alive. was truly moving and we were newly defined Values and Behaviours. delighted to play our part and ensure Our people’s behaviour and attitude To keep us fit for purpose, we that the opening was well managed have a huge impact on our instigated a review of the Royal and delivered with dignity. effectiveness as an organisation. Our Charter that defines our operating values define the things we stand for remit. The consultation process will To provide services and to organise and the high standards we expect of begin this year. We must show that events well requires an efficient, everyone. Both are critical if we are we are a contemporary, relevant well-managed and modern to perform our duty well and achieve organisation with a vital role for organisation. Our aim is operational our joint mission to support and today. Visiting the Legion’s clubs, excellence: we want to learn and commemorate effectively. operations and offices around the improve, and each time get better at country, as we both do, reveals just what we do. This year has seen us do Those values will help us carry out the how the Legion remains highly a lot of work internally to improve our big plans we have for 2018, details relevant. Our activities of corporate services with investment in of which you’ll find under each Remembrance, fundraising and IT, HR and finance systems, and the division’s section in this report. The service provision help people, but appointment of a new IT Director. upcoming trial of the community hub they also bring people together. In We also created the new post of at Galanos House, and the many doing what we do, the Legion can Director of Membership and Remembrance events, including the be a powerful force for good in our Volunteering. Both roles will help us Great Pilgrimage 90, will make this communities and across our country. improve the representation of our year at least as busy as the last, not members and volunteers in board- least because we are now in the final level decisions, and will improve centenary year. Our Thank You communications to members and movement will see us lead the nation volunteers as well as staff. in showing our gratitude to all those who served in uniform and on the Another administrative challenge Home Front. The sacrifice of that TERRY WHITTLES comes with new legislation around generation changed the world, National Chairman fundraising, information and bringing in an era of technical and data protection. Our investment cultural advances from which we have in IT systems, in processes and all benefited. Indeed, the world we training means we are well prepared now enjoy 100 years on can be seen to comply with these changes as the extraordinary legacy of the CHARLES BYRNE in regulation. men and women of that generation. Director General “OUR ACTIVITIES OF REMEMBRANCE, FUNDRAISING AND SERVICE PROVISION HELP PEOPLE, BUT THEY ALSO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER” 5 Contents_and_Forward.indd 5 01/05/2018 10:17 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 005_CONTENTS + WELCOME_V2 210X297 84 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM £ MILLION % 1 The Poppy Appeal 49.2 30.9 2 Donations, legacies and events 46.8 29.4 3 Lotteries and trading 21.7 13.6 4 Fees charged to care home residents 16.6 10.4 5 Grants received for welfare services and Remembrance 13.1 8.2 6 Membership subscriptions 5.2 3.3 7 Investment income 6.0 3.8 8 Other 0.6 0.4 TOTAL INCOME 159.2 100 6 Financial_Overview.indd 6 26/04/2018 11:27 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 006_FINACIAL OVERVIEW CHARTS_V1 210X297 84 8 6 7 5 1 4 Total £159.2M 3 2 7 Financial_Overview.indd 7 26/04/2018 11:27 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 007_FINACIAL OVERVIEW CHARTS_V1 210X297 84 3 1 Total £2.5M 2 WHERE THE MONEY GOES Capital costs £ MILLION % 1 Open Accounts implementation 0.8 32.0 2 NMA development 1.3 52.0 3 Other 0.4 16.0 TOTAL CAPITAL COSTS 2.5 100 8 Financial_Overview.indd 8 26/04/2018 11:27 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 008_FINACIAL OVERVIEW CHARTS_V1 210X297 84 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 9 1 8 2 Total 3 £155.3M 4 7 5 6 WHERE THE MONEY GOES Operational costs £ MILLION % 1 Poppy Appeal 13.9 8.9 2 Donations, legacies and events 12.9 8.3 3 Lotteries and trading 12.6 8.1 4 Remembrance 7.4 4.8 5 Comradeship 0.9 0.6 6 Care homes and break centres 30.9 19.9 7 Welfare services 57.4 37.0 8 Membership 8.6 5.5 9 Communication and campaigns 10.7 6.9 TOTAL OPERATIONAL COSTS 155.3 100 9 Financial_Overview.indd 9 26/04/2018 11:28 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 009_FINACIAL OVERVIEW CHARTS_V1 210X297 84 TRUSTEES’ REPORT OPERATIONS The Royal British Legion has been supporting members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, British BUILDING A STRONGER Army, Royal Air Force, Reservists and their families since 1921. Our support starts after seven days of service SUPPORT NETWORK FOR and continues through life, long after service is over. If OUR ARMED FORCES there is ever a reason we can’t help, our vast network means we will know someone who can.