Phoebe is marching because “Scotty’s has helped me so much"
This September, 19-year-old Phoebe Thomas will be one of 10 Scotty’s Little Soldiers’ Council Members taking on Scotty’s March in memory of her military parent. Phoebe’s dad, AB1 James Thompson, served as a mechanical engineer in the Navy as a diver. He died from skin cancer in 2014 when she was 10 years old.
75 Scotty’s supporters are set to take part in the fundraising event in Henley-on-Thames on September 23rd. Here, Phoebe shares why it is so important for her to march for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children and young people, and how the organisation has supported her since 2015.
Phoebe Thompson
Remembering my military parent
“It's difficult to encapsulate my Dad's personality in writing as there were two different sides to him. To start, he is quite literally the coolest guy I've ever met. He had such swag and style and posed for pictures like he was a model, which at the time as a ten-year-old was iconic! Now I think I would've howled with laughter seeing him pose for pictures like that. He'd never go anywhere without his aftershave on and gel in his hair, and he called himself 'James Bond'. But underneath this cool exterior he was kind, funny and compassionate and I was his little princess. And as the Scotty's support worker has recently help me realise, I will always be his little princess. He was my ultimate protector and hero and I admired him so much, as I always will.
My dad died of melanoma, which is skin cancer. It was a bit of a whirlwind and it all happened over a matter of weeks. After his diagnosis he quickly deteriorated and fell into a coma before dying. I absolutely urge anyone has any discoloured moles or appearance of new moles to please, please get them checked out as soon as you can.”
Phoebe's dad, AB1 James Thompson
How Scotty’s Little Soldiers has helped me
“Scotty's has helped me in more ways than imaginable. They allowed me to pursue my passion for dance through financial aid. Dance has always been something I've loved, but after losing my dad it became even more important to me as it was my outlet and escape from reality.
The Scotty's breaks were amazing. Within the whirlwind of family life there aren't very many times when we can all come together and spend quality time, but the Scotty Breaks meant we could all spend a full week away together. Not only were the breaks so much fun, but my family also used them as a time to commemorate my dad and reminisce together.
Finally, but most importantly, the Scotty's community has helped me so much. Meeting other bereaved military children provides me with so much comfort and support as we all relate and empathise to each other. This helped me so much because normal friends, whilst they can be there for you, never truly understand, especially as children. My Scotty's friends have become my second family and I know they be friends for life.”
Baby Phoebe with her dad and brother
What can Scotty Members find difficult following the death of a parent
“I find going into new chapters of life very challenging without my Dad, for example moving to university. Even though my Dad died nearly 9 years ago, I still just wish I could pick up the phone to hear the comfort of his voice and ask him for advice.
Another thing I found (and still find) super challenging is how losing a parent quickly forces you to grow up. Losing my dad just gave me so much perspective in life of what is and isn't important. When I was in high school, and still now, it's difficult to not get frustrated at friends being upset over such trivial things when you have quite literally lost a parent.
Even nine years on, I cannot talk about my dad without getting upset, which is why we rarely talk about my dad. I don't want to talk about my dad because it makes me upset and I don't want to be upset, but by not talking about my dad more its more upsetting when we do talk about him because it is rare. It's been an ongoing cycle for years until I started seeing the Scotty's support worker who has helped me talk about my dad and become more open to conversations with my family about him.”
Phoebe
Why I’m part of The Scotty’s Council
“Being part of the Scotty's Council means so many different things. its representing and promoting the charity as well as finding new ways to support the members of Scotty's Little Soldiers from the perspective of one of the members.
Being part of the council means so much to me as Scotty's has helped me so much that I'm so passionate about giving back to the charity. I'm also passionate about helping other children that have been through the same thing as me. I know how hard it is and it breaks my heart that other children have also had to experience losing a parent.”
Scotty’s Council is a small group of Scotty’s beneficiaries who provide a voice for bereaved military children and young adults. The council is made up of 12 Scotty Members (aged 11 – 17) who form the Members Council, and 12 Springboarders (aged 18 – 25) who form the Springboard Council - together they form Scotty’s Council.
The council members meet up throughout the year to provide input into the charity, providing ideas and suggestions on the support they feel bereaved military young people will benefit from the most. Our members are the reason we do what we do, so their opinions are vitally important to how we guide the direction of the charity going forward.
You’ve signed up for Scotty’s March with other members of the Council. Why do you want to take part?
My motivation came from being part of Scotty's Springoard Council. I feel proud to be part of it and I want to represent it. It goes without saying that I want to raise funds for Scotty's as I'm so passionate about the cause and helping more children get support. I also can't wait to see my friends from Scotty's again.
Phoebe with the Scotty's Council at Sky HQ
Why I’m taking on Scotty’s March
“My motivation came from being part of the Scotty's Springboarder's Council. I feel proud to be a part of it and I want to represent it. It goes without saying that I want to raise funds for Scotty's as I'm so passionate about the cause and helping more children get support. I also can't wait to see the other Scotty's members again.”
Scotty’s March is Scotty’s Little Soldiers only in-person fundraising event of 2023. Participants can take on 10km, 25km or 50km and run, walk or jog the distance to raise funds to support bereaved military children and young people. Charity founder Nikki Scott will be taking part with Scotty’s Council Members, some Scotty Members and families of Scotty Members, and Scotty’s supporters.
Why it’s so important to raise funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers
“It is so important to keep raising funds to continue helping to support bereaved military children and to find more bereaved Forces children out there that need support.”
My favourite memories as Member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers
“Meeting Bethan, my new best friend who understands me like no other friend has before. She has become my rock who I can cry with, laugh with and tell everything to and I only wish I had met her sooner.”
Phoebe and her brother on a Scotty Break
About Scotty’s Little Soldiers
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting military 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 supports 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.
