Scotty’s Winter Festival brings holiday cheer to bereaved military children
The end of the year can be a very emotional time for bereaved military children, but Scotty’s annual Winter Festival reminds them it’s still okay to smile.
This year’s festival was held on the 2nd of December at County Hall, London, and attended by over 130 bereaved military children and young people aged all the way from six months to 17 years old. The event is held in a different location every year and gives Scotty’s Members an opportunity to have fun while meeting others in the same situation as them, reducing their feelings of isolation and reminding them they aren’t alone in their grief.
“I made loads of new friends and had lots of fun,” said nine-year-old Scotty Member Elizabeth. “I thought the dancing was really funny and then I had a snowball fight with my sister and lots of other members. I won, I think.”
Scotty mum Katie said: “The festival was really good. It’s the first one we’ve been too, so it was really nice to meet everyone from Scotty’s and get to know so many of the families. My son, Elijah, is only three, but he had a brilliant time – especially jumping around on the bouncy castle with all the other members.”
Scotty Members stopping for a photo on the Winter Festival ski lift
Help their children smile
This year’s festival saw hundreds of Scotty’s members splitting into teams and taking on a range of crazy challenges including a reindeer derby, indoor snowboarding, bootlace race and much more! For every challenge completed, teams gained points, and at the end of the day the team with the most points won the coveted Scotty’s Trophy.
After a quick stop to relax and eat their provided lunch, Scotty’s Members then left their teams to throw themselves into series of individual and competitive activities ranging from human hungry hippo to arts and crafts, a UV tent and karaoke with a live rock band, before rounding off the day with one of Scotty’s famous snowball fights.
As well as having a great time seeing their friends and making new ones, all Scotty’s Members had the opportunity to remember their parent who has died by writing a special message for them and placing it on our message tree. The team from Scotty’s were also on hand to offer emotional support if it was needed.
Laura, who is mum to Scotty Members Bella (13) and Evie (12), said: “A huge thank you to all involved with the Winter Festival. Bella and Evie had the best time. I haven’t seen them smile or laugh like they have this weekend in a very long time. It’s wonderful to see them be themselves with friends who just get it.”
Scotty Members enjoying the rockeoke
Meeting bereaved British Forces children and young people
The Winter Festival is a special event for our Members aged 0-17, but we also had a group of Scotty’s Springboarders (members aged 18-25) on hand to offer support to our younger beneficiaries and act as trusted adults who understand first-hand what it’s like to experience the death of a military parent.
22-year-old Scotty Springboarder Beth said: “I think we all jumped at the opportunity to volunteer at the Winter Festival because we loved attending it so much as children. It was a great opportunity to help give that joy we felt to other bereaved children. On top of that, it’s just a great chance for us to see our friends from Scotty’s again and have a laugh!”
Scotty's Winter Festival Springboard buddies
Scotty’s founder, Nikki:
“December can be a really difficult time for bereaved children and their families, but the Winter Festival is such a brilliant way to put a smile on the face of all our members and remind them they’re not alone in their grief. All the activities were chosen to get our members interacting with each other, having fun and building their self-esteem. For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever met other young people who have also experienced the death of a military parent, which can be so important for a child or young person still coming to terms with their bereavement. It was a fantastic day and I loved seeing our members bond over their shared experiences, growing their confidence and leaving at the end of the day with new friends and a massive grin on their face.”
Scotty's founder, Nikki, having fun with Members
Thank you
Scotty’s Winter Festival wouldn’t be possible without a helping hand. We’d like to thank all our brilliant volunteers for helping to put on an unforgettable party, alongside Paul Tibbs Photography for capturing the event, Rail Delivery Group for supplying our families and team members with rail tickets and CC1 Norfolk for providing first aid. We’d also like thank a number of trusted military groups who were on-hand to offer specialised advice to our families, including Forces Pension Society, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Forces Employment and Military at Microsoft. Finally, none of this would have been possible without the generous funding of the Annie Tranmer Charitable Trust, Kristina Martin Charitable Trust, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Tesco Community Grants and the Veterans’ Foundation.
Scotty Members tucking into some cotton candy
Supporting bereaved military families
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a military 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 supports over 650 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.
If you know a child or young person who has experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces, they could be eligible for specialist bereavement support from Scotty's Little Soldiers. Hundreds of bereaved military children aren’t getting the support they need but we are here to help.
If you know a bereaved military child who could benefit from Scotty’s Little Soldiers support, visit our Get Support page for more information.
Scotty's 2023 Winter Festival
