Royal British Legion Events

09/06/2026

02/06/2026

16/04/2026

We are pleased to announce today that from September 2026 the National Memorial Arboretum will be known as the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens.

The RBL has been the Arboretum’s parent charity since 2003, and the two charities recently merged as one. The name change is inspired by RBL’s vision to bring society together to recognise, remember, and support the Armed Forces community and reflects the site’s role at the centre of our Remembrance work.

Since it opened to the public 25 years ago, the destination has grown into a beautiful and inspiring place where everyone can celebrate lives lived and remember lives lost and welcomes more than 300,000 visitors each year. As part of our aims to evolve Remembrance and widen participation, the site will bring more people together to reflect, learn and remember service and sacrifice.

RBL National Remembrance Gardens describes a place that invites people in, not just to reflect, but to take an active part in Remembrance.

The Arboretum’s founder, Commander (Rtd) David Childs CBE, has expressed his strong support for the development, praising RBL for its stewardship of the site and how it has helped it flourish.

From a seed of an idea to the nation’s year-round place to remember, the Arboretum has been shaped by the people who care for it. That shared commitment from employees, volunteers, supporters and communities will continue as it enters its next chapter as the RBL National Remembrance Gardens.

02/04/2026

Ben’s journey shows exactly why your donations matter 💙🏃‍♂️ Feel free to copy this post, and share it with your fundraising page link to show your network where their money could be going!

Ben, an RAF Veteran, found himself homeless after being evicted when his grandma, who he was caring for, passed away.

With help from the Royal British Legion, Ben rebuilt his life. We supported him with rent and utility bills, and helped fund his personal trainer qualification so he could find a fresh start.

Running became a huge part of that journey. What started as a way to cope with PTSD soon took him to marathons across the world. Last year he proudly ran the London Marathon as part of Team RBL, and this year he will be running the Great North Run with us!

Ben said: “I’ve been able to get back on my feet and the future is looking so much brighter. I have a lovely flat, I’m fit and healthy again and I have a much more positive outlook on life.”

Ben's story is one of many, and your donations really do make a difference. Here's some of the ways each donation can change a life in our Armed Forces community:

💙 £5 could pay for a bus/train ticket for a rough sleeping veteran to access local council services.
💙 £20 could go towards an emergency grant for an Armed Forces family facing money problems, stepping in before they receive expert support from our debt advice team
💙 £50 could pay an emergency utility bill for an Armed Forces family unable to afford the rising energy costs.
💙 £850 could fund an advanced rent payment for a veteran’s family facing a no-fault eviction.

17/03/2026

After being medically discharged, British Army veteran James is back with a vengeance, and is taking on the 2026 London Marathon in support of the Royal British Legion.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Uncle and brother, James served for eight years in the Royal Logistics Corp as a Communications Specialist, aiming to learn a trade. He also threw himself into sports, but severely injured his knee, from ACL to meniscus and snapped the bottom of his femur, leading to his medical discharge.

“One bad tackle, and that was that”, he said.

Now James found himself navigating new challenges out of service, while still recovering from his injury. In an attempt to claim his compensation he turned up to his tribunal with no understanding of how it worked.

James gave us a call, and we were able to step in. He took part in a multi-day activity course at the Battle Back Centre, using adaptive sports, what he loved the most, to support his recovery.

We also made sure that James had proper representation at his next tribunal. Now, James has set his sights on the world’s largest marathon, to give back to the cause.

“I always think, someone turned up for me that day, and it make sense for me to repay that”, he told us. “It set me up for life.”

As well as a sense of duty, James has inherited the competitive gene and is determined to beat his Dad’s PB and secure a three hours fifteen minutes finish time. Above all, he’s doing it for his community.

“Soldiers that are coming out are really struggling. Luckily, I've got a support network behind me with my family, but not all the lads have that.”

Please join us in wishing James all the best of luck for his big day! 🏃‍♂️

23/02/2026

If you’ve been thinking about taking on a running challenge this year, consider this your sign🏃‍♂️✨

We still have charity running places available, but they’re going quickly - and once they're gone, they’re gone!

You can join Team RBL in events across the UK and even overseas, with distances and challenges to suit every runner. From 5Ks and 10Ks to half marathons, full marathons and obstacle races, there’s a race with your name on it.

Run for our Armed Forces community and make every mile matter. We'll be there to support you every step of the way!

👉 Find your local events and sign up today:
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/events/running

18/02/2026

This year marks 15 years since the end of the Iraq War.

To mark the anniversary we are inviting all those who served in the conflict, their family members, and those who lost loved ones, to come together at the National Memorial Arboretum on Friday 22 May.

The national commemorative event will ensure the Armed Forces community’s unique contribution is not forgotten, and remember the 179 British personnel who lost their lives.

If you would like to attend or share your story, please register on our website ⬇️
https://rbl.org.uk/telic15fb