An intrepid adventurer who has climbed 10 of the world’s highest mountains dropped in to The Poppy Factory to attempt a daunting new challenge. Former reservist Stuart Leach contacted our …
John takes on the London Marathon for The Poppy Factory
With the London Marathon just six weeks away, training is heating up for Wiltshire resident John Chapman as he gets ready to run in a Poppy Factory T-shirt. The 61-year-old …
The women driving The Poppy Factory to success
The combined knowledge and experience of The Poppy Factory’s female staff and supporters are vital to the success of our operation, with women making up five of our seven executive …
A Mount-ain Climbed
In the summer of 1981, just a few months before his 21st birthday, Russ Kirby was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash. His left arm was paralysed and his naval …
Setting up a Facebook birthday fundraiser for The Poppy Factory
Creating a Facebook birthday fundraiser is an easy way to help raise money, and awareness, for The Poppy Factory. Ajay explains why he chose to ask for donations rather than …
Every little token helps veterans with physical and mental health conditions back into work
Shoppers at Tesco stores throughout England have been getting behind The Poppy Factory recently, thanks to an excellent joint effort by our employability and fundraising teams. Our Director of Operations, …
Martin’s Story
Every person in our production team has interesting stories to tell. The team are made up of 24 people, many of whom are veterans, including Martin who served in the …
2019: A Look at the year ahead
The Poppy Factory had an incredible year in 2018 but this year we hope it will be bigger and better. We are already planning for our Annual General Meeting where …
Finally I have found a job I believe I will be good at
Dom was a Driver Lineman in the Royal Signals for just over 10 years but left in 2007 due to a heart condition, PTSD and anxiety. He went into a …
Wrapping up our Christmas campaign
Now the festive lights have been taken down and the tinsel put away for another year, we’ve been able to crunch the numbers for our Christmas #WorkingWithPTSD campaign. Our social …
New year message from our CEO
As the new year gets under way, ex-Forces men and women who are out of work in the UK will be looking ahead to what 2019 might have in store …
Richmond businesses raise £4,500 for The Poppy Factory in online auction
Local businesses came together through Be Richmond to raise £4,500 in an online auction for Richmond-based charity The Poppy Factory. Auction lots were provided by 25 businesses and organisations that …
TPF receives generous donation from the Veterans’ Foundation
The Poppy Factory is delighted to have received a total of £10,000 from new grant funder, the Veterans’ Foundation, to help us continue our work supporting wounded, injured and sick …
Poppy Factory receives Freedom of the Borough
The Poppy Factory has been awarded the borough’s highest honour in recognition of its work. As part of the borough’s commemoration activities to mark the end of 100 years since …
Highlights from 2018
Wow, what a year 2018 has been! Not only has it marked 100 years since the end of World War One, but it has also been the year we reached …
Our #WorkingWithPTSD Christmas Campaign
Good support and secure finances top UK Christmas list for positive mental health YouGov poll for The Poppy Factory indicates scale of challenge for those with PTSD who are seeking …
Coaching For Success
Dean Graham, a 37 year old father and a former Corporal in the Royal Logistics Corps, developed a painful joint condition that affected his back while serving. He was medically …
Who makes your poppy?
Jamie is one of the 30+ ex-Servicemen and women employed in the Production Team to make poppies, wreaths and symbols for the Remembrance period. Jamie, like many of The Poppy …
First World War hero, Angus Kilburn, one of our earliest poppy makers
Angus Kilburn was injured 19 days before the end of the war on 23 October 1918, after a skirmish, when he and three other stretcher bearers went out into battlefield …
Prince Harry opens 90th Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey
HRH the Duke of Sussex will today open the 90th Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, three days before the centenary of the end of the First World War, to …
Time-lapse film: Setting up the Field of Remembrance
Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, The Poppy Factory organises the annual Field of Remembrance event at Westminster Abbey to remember those who have lost their lives in the Forces. To capture …
Remembrance Art Trail
From Monday 29th October to Sunday 11th November, 11 stunning art installations will be exhibited around Canary Warf in this year’s Remembrance Art Trail. The exhibition, which is in association …
Poppy Factory’s Dan goes for gold at the Invictus Games 2018
Dan Richards, a former British Army soldier, who has been supported into work by The Poppy Factory, is heading Down Under to compete in this year’s Invictus Games. Dan will …
Local fireworks support Poppy Factory veterans
The annual Richmond family fireworks display, taking place on Sunday 4th November 2018 at the Athletic Ground, will generously donate 50p from the sale of each ticket to The Poppy …
Jonathan cycles 300 miles to Great Uncle’s war grave for 100th anniversary
A former Poppy Factory colleague, Jonathan Marks, set out on a challenge of a lifetime – cycling to France to visit his Great Uncle’s war grave marking a century since …
Sir Michael Morpurgo reads at The Poppy Factory
As the centenary of the end of the First World War approaches, The Poppy Factory was honoured to host a reading by the author Sir Michael Morpurgo from his new …
Maria to sing with The Invictus Games Choir in a special WWI performance at The Royal Albert Hall
On Tuesday 9th October, the Invictus Games Choir will be performing the ‘Great War Symphony’ at the Royal Albert Hall in a special performance marking the 100th anniversary of the …
New job for Dale
Dale, a former soldier who was injured while serving in Afghanistan, will be starting a new job on Monday 8th October with support from The Poppy Factory. Dale said: “I …
