People’s Millions Vote Winner Opens Its Doors To Public

People’s Millions Vote Winner Opens Its Doors To Public

Off By Sharon Black

Nine months after the people of Kent voted for RBLI (Royal British Legion Industries) to win the Big Lottery People’s Millions, the charity’s Base Camp project is opening its doors.

Veterans, local residents, students, businesses and community groups all came together to support RBLI in winning £50,000 to transform the old Doctor’s House into a community hub and café in the heart of Royal British Legion Village in Aylesford.

Base Camp will bring together veterans and people living in the area to socialise and take part in a variety of regular activities, helping reduce the isolation among veterans and offering better integration with the wider community.

Chief Executive of RBLI, Steve Sherry, is delighted to see the project come to fruition: “Ever since the generous public voted us to victory we’ve been hard at work renovating the old building into an accessible and welcoming venue.

“We’re extremely pleased with the results and can’t wait to see the local community start using the venue and making it their own.”

An official ceremony launching Base Camp will take place on Friday 4th September 2015 at 9am when MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch together with other invited guests, will unveil the plaque marking the event. Guests from Tonbridge & Malling Council, Aylesford Parish Council, Golding Homes and local charities will then take the first ever refreshments in the Base Camp café.

The community hub and café will be open to the public every day from Saturday 5th September 2015, 8am – 5pm Monday – Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sunday.

The launch of the Base Camp café comes shortly after RBLI completed its build of the Garden of Honour, a permanent national memorial in Royal British Legion Village to the bravery and sacrifice made by Military Personnel in this country.