What is Scotty's £50 New School Grant?
Education is a vital aspect of every child's life, shaping their future and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. Starting or changing schools can be difficult for any child and comes with a financial cost to parents and carers – such as purchasing new books, stationery and uniforms. For bereaved military children, starting a new school can come with its own set of additional challenges, especially if they’re no longer surrounded by people who know their Armed Forces background.
It’s for these reasons that Scotty’s offer a New School Grant to any Members starting or changing to a new school. This £50 contribution is there to help alleviate the financial burden on our parents/carers and remind our Members that we’re here to support them every step of the way on their education journey.
What do our Members think?
Scotty Member Logan started secondary school last year. His mum, Emma, said: “We applied for the new school grant to go towards school uniform, as Logan started secondary school. A big milestone in his life which would usually be shared as parents. Having the contribution feels as though we are part of a community that follows, tracks and takes an interest in the children’s lives, progress and achievements. Not just to assist during hard times, but also to support and encourage them to thrive and have access to opportunities.”
Starting a new school as a bereaved military child
Starting a new school is a significant life event, and like any significant life event, it can create a number of different emotions and challenges. For bereaved military children, the transition to a new school is often amplified by the unique circumstances they face. Not only must they grapple with the changes every child faces in a new academic environment, but they must also navigate the complexities of potentially leaving behind the military community they've grown up in, relocating to a new home, and forming new friendships. For many bereaved Armed Forces children, this is an understandably daunting prospect.
What is Scotty's Little Soldiers?
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a tri-service charity dedicated to supporting children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Inspired by the experience of Army widow Nikki Scott, following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009, the charity, which was set up in 2010, provides support and guidance to hundreds of bereaved military children and young people throughout their childhood.
Scotty’s currently has over 600 members and services offered include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance (including grants), and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.
