Samuel is marching “to help more young people" like him
20-year-old Samuel Ruddlesdin will join Scotty’s March this September to march in memory of his stepfather, SAC Richard Hannis who served as an armourer in the RAF. He was killed in a motorbike crash on his way to work in 2009 when Samuel was 6 years old. Samuel, Scotty’s Council Member, will march alongside 10 other council members as they represent and raise funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children and young people.
75 Scotty’s supporters are set to take part in the fundraising event in Henley-on-Thames on September 23rd. Here, Samuel shares why it is so important for him to march for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children and young people, and how the organisation has supported him since 2011.
Sam Ruddlesdin
Remembering my military stepfather
“My stepdad, Richard, was an armourer in the RAF and was killed in a motorbike crash on his way to work.”
How Scotty’s Little Soldiers has helped me
"Finding other children and now young people like me who can share the same feelings and understand what it's like has really helped me.”
What can Scotty Members find difficult following the death of a parent
“Remembrance, Father's Day, Mother's Day, anniversaries and birthdays can all be challenging times.”
Sam with some friends from Scotty's Council
Why I’m part of The Scotty’s Council
“I’m part of Scotty’s Council to help Scotty’s understand the needs of the members and Springboarders from a different point of view.”
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.
Why I’m taking on Scotty’s March
“I’m taking on Scotty’s March to give back to Scotty's and help how I can.”
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.
Sam and the rest of Scotty's Council in the Sky newsroom
Why it’s so important to raise funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers
“It’s so important to raise funds for Scotty’s to help it grow and expand so it can help more young people like me.”
My favourite memories as Member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers
“My favourite memory of Scotty’s Little Soldiers was the Sky trip!”
The Scotty’s Council members also represent Scotty’s externally. Members of the council attended a two-day event at Sky in April 23, where they were given media training to help give them skills and confidence to raise awareness of their charity through media platforms.
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.
