Watch brave military children share stories about their heroes

Scotty’s Little Soldiers has revealed the heartbreaking, true picture of how many bereaved military children there are every year – and are appealing for your support and donations.

New figures show that approximately 2,100 children EVERY year experience the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces – many more than previously known.

Help us meet the need and ensure every bereaved military child can get access to the best emotional support, outstanding development opportunities and the chance to smile again.

Meet Isabella, Oliver and Evie

Isabella, Oliver and Evie were 10, 8 and 3 when their dad, Sergeant Thomas Pike who served in the Royal Air Force, died from illness in 2021.

Isabella said: “[Scotty’s] has got a lot of kids that are like me. It’s filled with other kids that I can relate to and make me feel like I’m not so alone.”

Their mum, Amanda, said: “Scotty’s reminded us we're part of the military family. For so long you take it as a given but, when your partner dies, everything changes. You have to leave your military home if you're in one, and you leave behind so many of those links to your previous life. It can feel very isolating. But then Scotty’s came along and brought us right back into this new military family. It’s a massive support for the children. Just seeing the smiles on their faces and the effort Scotty’s go to for them is incredible.”

Meet Brooke

Brooke was five months old when her dad, Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in action serving with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment in Afghanistan in 2009.

"I’ll sometimes end up thinking about how I'm never going to see him again and how I’ll miss out on things I’ve only dreamt about. Things like him walking me down the aisle, having him interrogate my future boyfriends and telling him he's going to be a grandad. Dad’s birthday and the anniversary of his death can also be really difficult.

"Scotty's has given me the strength to work through issues, and it means everything. If dad could see everything the charity has done in his memory, I know he’d be so proud.”

Meet Tuscany

Tuscany was 13 when her dad, Leading Marine Engineering Mechanic Paul Crowther, who served in the Royal Navy, died by suicide in 2020.

"I’ve felt all kinds of emotions since my dad died, and they’ve all changed over time. I don’t think I would have been able to grow as a young person if I didn’t have Scotty’s there to support me.

"It feels like, even though my dad's not physically here to help me with this stuff, in a way it feels like he’s always helping through the support Scotty’s provides."

Meet Josh

Josh was just 6 when his dad, Lance Corporal Christopher Bradshaw, who served in the Royal Intelligence Corp of the British Army, was killed in a car crash.

"I’ve made some really close friends from Scotty’s, especially as I’ve got older, because I’ve realised how hard it actually is to come by other people that have gone through the same things as me.

"What I value the most about Scotty’s is the time and support they've given me over the years. It’s been totally essential to mine and my family’s wellbeing. From the one-to-one bereavement counselling sessions to dealing with those life milestones like leaving school (and) support around key times of year."

Support Their Children

Meet Elizabeth & Isabelle

Elizabeth was 2 and Isabelle just 1 when their dad, Leading Naval Nurse Thomas Bovington, who served in the Royal Navy, died from an undiagnosed, genetic, heart condition.

Elizabeth said: "I know that his memory will never die as long as we keep talking about him."

Their mum, Vicky, said: “Scotty’s has been part of the girls’ lives for as long as they can remember. They really enjoy spending time with the other children. It’s a great opportunity to smile and have a laugh with hundreds of other children who all understand each other. Being a single parent can be quite difficult to manage at times, and the girls having those opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have is brilliant.”

How your generousity can change the lives of bereaved military children...

We now know more than 2,100 children are bereaved EVERY year of a parent who served our country.

Your donations help us deliver the best emotional support, outstanding development opportunities and the chance for them to smile again.

- 100% of Scotty's parents reported an improvement in their child's self esteem.

- 100% of Scotty's parents reported an improvement in their child's communication.

- 82% of families who benefitted from a Scotty's break felt a stronger connection to the military community

Scotty's has supported 683 children and young people this year - and your donation can power Scotty’s growth to reach more children of our heroes - whether their parent was killed in action or died by illness, accident, suicide or any other cause of death.

- £20 can fund a voucher to help them not feel alone on the anniversary of their parent's death.

- £50 can fund a vital, 1-2-1 emotional support session for a child or a parent to protect their mental health and wellbeing.

- £1,000 can fund a powerful, Scotty's respite break for a family - giving them a chance to smile again - and feel connected to the military community.

Search

We use cookies for marketing analytics

Close