On Friday Chelsea Pensioners (as pictured) met at the Royal Yacht Squadron, to highlight their new fundraising campaign.  Members of the Isle of Wight Council and local businesses attended in support of the appeal.

The Chelsea Pensioners Appeal was set up to raise £35 million to rebuild the existing Infirmary and to modernise the Long Wards.  The success of this Appeal is vital to securing and sustaining this National Institution.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea has achieved much over the last 300 years and is independent of Government, it is home for between 300 and 350 veteran soldiers, who have decided to surrender their military pension to the Treasury in order to receive accommodation, food, uniform clothing, professional care and medical attention, when they need it.

The Government provides a Grant in Aid to the Royal Hospital each year to cover the majority of the running costs, however major projects and non-routine maintenance requires additional funds, which have to be secured through private donations.

Legislation on Care Standards is changing and people’s expectations of care quality are rightly rising.  The Royal Hospital must therefore respond and make appropriate changes to the buildings if it is to remain an attractive proposition for retired soldiers, who are older than 65 and who have no one financially dependent upon them.

To View the Chelsea Pensioners Appeal Video Click HERE:

There are a number of ways you can donate to The Chelsea Pensioners Appeal, just choose one of the options below: 

Donate Online Click HERE:

Or Buy-A-Brick Campaign Click HERE:

Reported By Island Pulse.