Poppies will not be sold in the city’s streets or independent shops this year.
The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal raises money to support current and former service people and their families, launching nationally on October 26.
Independent shops and pubs usually stock the poppies while volunteers sell them in the streets - however the Royal British Legion (RBL) confirmed on Monday (October 16) that neither will happen this time around.
It is the job of a poppy appeal organiser to liaise with managers at the RBL who then arrange for delivery of the paper brooches and tins, but after Brighton’s organiser was unable to help this year, this will not be possible.
It means poppies will only be available to buy in the city’s major supermarkets.
Lauryn Francis, Poppy Appeal manager for Sussex at the Royal British Legion, said: “The Poppy Appeal is a volunteer led appeal. Without our Poppy Appeal organisers and their many volunteers, the Royal British Legion could not support those who need us most.
“Locations of poppy boxes vary from area to area depending on volunteer coverage.
“In Brighton city centre and Hove, paper poppies will be available in supermarkets including Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons, and One Stop thanks to our partner organisations, whilst our poppy collectors will still be out and about on the streets in Brighton suburbs, including Patcham and Woodingdean.”
“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the Poppy Appeal, and we would like to extend a big thank you to our dedicated volunteers in Brighton.”
Anyone who would like to support the Poppy Appeal should get in contact via the RBL website, but with only ten days to go until the launch, it is too late to appoint a new poppy appeal organiser for Brighton.
However, the charity is confident that fundraising will not be affected.
READ MORE: Ross Kemp says volunteers for poppy appeal are needed this year ‘more than ever’
It follows a plea from actor Ross Kemp in July for people to support the poppy appeal, in which he said volunteers are needed now “more than ever”.
“I’d like to encourage anyone who can spare the time this autumn to volunteer for the poppy appeal,” he said.
Kemp, 58, has familial links to the army, and in 2007 the EastEnders actor joined his father’s old regiment, 1 Royal Anglian, for an Afghanistan-based documentary where he discovered what life was like for soldiers on the frontline.
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