REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley met with the new area manager for the Royal British Legion, David Lowe in Parliament to discuss the charity’s work in the area.

Mrs Lumley learned more about the community covenant, which is the Legion’s work developing a mutual support between the civilian community in Redditch and its local armed forces community.

The Legion provides support for members of the armed forces community in the area in the form of financial aid, benefits and money advice.

Mrs Lumley said: “I was really pleased to meet my new local area manager. David made it clear that the Legion’s work does not stop on November 11. Providing assistance for members and former members of the armed forces who have been injured, or are struggling in any other way, is a 365-day-a-year job. It is vital that we as a nation honour the sacrifices made by our armed forces, and I’m proud to support the work of the Royal British Legion.”

Mr Lowe, the Legion’s area manager, added: “It was great to see Karen, we really appreciated her making the time to drop in. Many people don’t realise that we spend nearly £1.7 million a week on helping both the serving and ex-service communities, plus their families, so we were delighted to tell Karen about the range of services we provide. We help everyone from a child of a serving family needing an adventure break to a young entrepreneur needing advice and assistance to be his own boss.”

The meeting came just as the Prime Minister announced a Government-led military discount scheme for all serving personnel, their families and veterans of the armed forces, which includes a discount card for use in many high street shops.

Commenting on the scheme, Mrs Lumley added: “People across Redditch will be delighted to see members of the armed forces receiving the very first Defence Discount cards just in time for Christmas. We owe a huge debt to the members of the armed forces and these new cards are a token of the huge appreciation that we all have for them.”