Active dedication to social value: Martin Close and His Commitment to the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal 2024
At Hambleton Steel, we believe in giving back to the community and doing it by being actively involved, something we encourage our employees to do too.
As part of our social value commitments, we offer our employees voluntary days for charitable support and volunteering. An example of this is our very own Martin Close, Steel Connection Engineer with the company and his dedication to the Royal British Legion and the annual Poppy Appeal.
A Passion for Service
After joining the Army Cadets as a child, Martin served for just over six years in the regular Army and Reserves until a knee injury stopped him being able to continue with his beloved activities. Martin didn’t want to just leave it there, so he offered his volunteering services to the Royal British Legion with whatever he could do to support the Legion and the Poppy Appeal. Martin welcomed the opportunity to use his voluntary relief as part of Hambleton Steel’s social value commitments, to continue his support with the Royal British Legion, participating in the Poppy Appeal on 11th November—a vital campaign that raises funds to support the Armed Forces community. This year, Martin didn’t want to just dedicate time to the 1 day so began collecting from the end of October, collecting evenings and weekends at Asda and also Lidl in Peterlee, County Durham.
The Poppy Appeal
The Poppy Appeal is an annual fundraising initiative that helps provide essential services to veterans and their families. It reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who served our country, ensuring that they receive the support they deserve. The appeal is of huge importance to Martin and took it upon himself to make a difference.
A Day of Impact
Martin's efforts not only contribute financially but also raises awareness about the importance of supporting veterans.
Martin talked about his connections with the Legion leading onto support over the years “About 12 years ago, a group of ex service personnel formed a veterans breakfast club which is still going strong. Off the back of that, around 8 years ago the decision was made to form a local Royal British Legion branch. We are making good progress engaging with the local community and local veterans. I've helped with the selling of poppies for what seems like an age and its actually good fun! I do a lot in my own time, so being given paid time off is a massive thing. I have recently volunteered to become the Community Support representative for our Branch which means we can better help those in need at a local level.”
His initiative has inspired many others at Hambleton Steel to engage with charitable activities, reinforcing our company’s commitment to making a positive impact.
A Culture of Giving Back
At Hambleton Steel, we are proud to support our employees in their charitable endeavours. By offering voluntary days for volunteering, we encourage a culture of giving back and community engagement.
Join Us in Supporting the Royal British Legion
We invite everyone to join us in supporting the Poppy Appeal and the incredible work of the Royal British Legion. Together, we can honour the sacrifices of our veterans and ensure they receive the support they need.
Let’s continue to work together to support our community and those who have served.
