Our Charity

Our remit is to help ex-Service men and women who served The Crown and their widows who are now in need. Benevolence monies are dispensed to beneficiaries through a network of ex-Service Organisations across the Commonwealth with the aim of providing 2 meals a day to each beneficiary, to ensure a healthy diet. Such is the demand today, that in some parts of the World, the charity is unable to provide more than 20 meals a month, so the Commonwealth Veterans Review Committee (CVRC) chaired by Sir Malcolm Rifkind (a long-standing supporter and Friend of The League ) was formed to raise awareness and persuade the UK Government to help support our worthy cause. The CVRC co-chaired by our Grand President, General The Lord Richards and made up of The Royal British Legion, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund developed a strategy that demonstrated UK Service Charity support for the project.  In 2018 at The Commonwealth Council Meeting in Canada House, London, the then Secretary of State for International Development, The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt announced a Commonwealth Veterans Programme would provide lifesaving support to thousands of veterans and widows across the globe.  Please refer to our Welfare page to view her speech in full.  We have during this time distributed funding to provide support for all beneficiaries to allow them access to a healthy diet and a more comfortable life in their older years.

The League has committed to providing matched funding for the FCDO Commonwealth Veterans Programme and in order to keep our side of the arrangement we rely on the generosity of those who support us.

RCEL could not do its work without the support of all the Service Charities and those who very generously fund our work.

We would like to particularly acknowledge the following generous supporters.