Your county needs you!

An appeal has been launched to find an army of new volunteers for this year's Poppy Appeal in Cumbria.

Up to 30 new recruits are needed from across Carlisle to help raise much-needed funds which will support members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

The need appears to be greater in west Cumbria where the Royal British Legion is hoping up to 40 new volunteers will step forward.

The Royal British Legion is calling on people give a few hours of their time to make a difference to the 6.2 million-strong service personnel family eligible for help.

Each year more than 350,000 volunteers are needed for the annual nationwide appeal.

The Legion’s Poppy People campaign – a national recruitment drive for Poppy Appeal volunteers – is looking for enthusiastic people of all ages and backgrounds to form part of its army of fundraisers.

More than £101,000 was raised across Carlisle for the Poppy Appeal last year.

Judith Reay, the Legion’s community fundraiser for Cumbria, said: "We need approximately 30 additional volunteers in Carlisle and 40 in west Cumbria this year to ensure we raise much-needed funds.

"Volunteering can provide great opportunities for those involved.

"It allows the chance to meet new people, learn new and transferable skills and be part of a team that helps the Armed Forces community and promotes understanding of Remembrance.

"We’d love all who want to volunteer with us to get in contact."

Fundraising director Claire Rowcliffe added: "The Poppy Appeal is The Royal British Legion’s main fundraising event of the year.

"Our volunteers are very much the lifeblood of the Poppy Appeal and contribute enormously to the charity year-round through a variety of roles."

The Royal British Legion is the nation's biggest Armed Forces charity.

It is the national custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces.

Interested in volunteering?

Contact Judith Reay on 07917 581077 or email JReay@britishlegion.org.uk .

Visit the Royal British Legion website for more information about their work.