We’re committed to supporting children and young people of all ages: enhancing their wellbeing, helping them gain skills and knowledge, and empowering them to participate in decision making that affects their lives.
We also work closely with educators and other professionals so they can better understand Forces life, and so that systems can evolve to meet the needs of children from Forces families.
What helps babies and young children feel safe, secure and understood when the world around them keeps changing?
This conversation is for early years practitioners, nursery staff, family support workers, professionals working with Armed Forces families, and anyone with an interest in young children’s wellbeing.
We’re delighted to be joined by Starcatchers, a Scottish organisation specialising in performances and creativity for babies and children under five.
Book your place
When his mum has to leave her job as a soldier, Max has to get used to a world outside their Forces community. How will he adapt?
Max’s Big Move is a story created with children from Armed Forces families, designed to support families and the practitioners who work alongside them as they experience change — including the transition to civilian life.
Co-written with Forces pupils, the story reflects real experiences of leaving the patch, adjusting to change, and navigating feelings of belonging and uncertainty.
Here’s the full book, an animated read-aloud and a range of playful and supportive resources with readers worldwide.
Explore Max’s story
This new report shows that children and young people from Armed Forces families are not always receiving the support they need at school, and what needs to change.
The ask is clear: they need understanding, consistency and support that follows them, rather than support that resets every time they move.
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland asked us to gather the views of Forces children for this report. Read the report to see what they have to say:
Find out more
The Forces Children’s Rights Charter, co-produced with children and young people, aims to champion the rights of babies, children and young people from forces families and drive forward positive change.
In the words of Cadence, one of the young people who helped create the charter: “This is more than a document; it’s a representation of our ideas, stories, and vision for the future. It’s a message that forces kids deserve fairness, recognition, and support.”
Read the Charter
The Ruby Boots Project is a school-based peer group mentorship project for pupils from Armed Forces families in Edinburgh and Fife.
Ruby Boots was an idea generated by children and young people. It brings together pupils whose parents are leaving the military with children from Veteran families, who have already made this change and understand their experiences.
Learn more
Join the McLennan family on a journey through the ups and downs of the deployment. There are seven stages, here to help children and young people navigate the deployment journey:
When parents leave the Armed Forces, it can feel like a tornado for children and young people. There experiences are centred in three short films produced as part of the ‘Tornado of Change’ campaign.
These films explore the emotional impact of that transition, from anxiety about the unknown to feeling isolated in an unfamiliar place, and a sense of powerlessness as their families adjust from military to civilian life.
Watch Tornado of Change
We’re honoured to have over two hundred years of history serving the Armed Forces community. But our main focus is supporting today’s babies, children, and young people, and understanding how we can make things easier for the next generation.
This year, we marked our fifth anniversary as Forces Children Scotland with children and young people, their families, our staff and trustees, and some special guests for an Armed Forces Day celebration.
Here’s what they had to say about the work we’re doing and why it’s so important to listen to young people.
Midlothian Council has become the latest local authority to adopt the Forces Children’s Rights Charter. Cllr Pauline Winchester brought the...
Moving somewhere new is a big deal, and for children and young people from Armed Forces families, it can happen...
We’re so excited to share this report with you, highlighting the difference we have made for babies, children and young...
For many children and young people in Armed Forces families, global conflict and instability don’t feel like distant issues. These...
Today, Moray Council agreed to endorse the Forces Children’s Rights Charter and continue building on the success of the Dandelion...
Last week, we introduced a Rights-Informed Public Health Approach. Here are some ideas from our CEO, Steven Sweeney, on how...
In the words of Cadence, a young person who contributed to The Forces Children’s Rights Charter, “this is more than a...
Ask a child from an Armed Forces family about relocating and they are unlikely to talk only about moving house. They will describe...
This is a three-part series exploring how a Rights-Informed Public Health Approach (RIPHA) can support continuity of wellbeing for babies,...
Forces Children Scotland congratulates Andy Burnham on becoming Prime Minister. As he begins to set out his policy priorities, our...
Young people from across Forces families had a fun and productive summer residential last week in collaboration with Young Scot....
You may have seen the Ruby Boots poster by now, but do you know the story behind it? Here are some...
We are saddened by the recent loss of Malcolm Noble, our former Chair and dedicated Ambassador. As a team, we...
We're delighted to share that Forces Children Scotland has been named a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award winner....
Angus Council has today signalled its commitment to the Armed Forces community by becoming the first local authority in Tayside...
Scottish Borders Council has become one of the first local authorities in Scotland to formally adopt the Forces Children’s Rights...
Today, we’re marking our fifth anniversary as Forces Children Scotland, and we had a fitting celebration over the weekend:...
Renfrewshire Council has marked a milestone in strengthening the rights of children from Armed Forces families across Renfrewshire by endorsing...
Here is a summary of our response to the UK Government’s Growing Up in an Online World consultation, courtesy of...
Inverclyde Council has today become the first local authority in Scotland to endorse the Forces Children’s Rights Charter, marking a...
As proud members of Veterans Scotland, we were delighted to attend the Armed Forces Champions Gathering in Stirling last week...
This Volunteers’ Week, we’re feeling grateful to the wonderful team that makes Ruby Boots possible, including Louise, whose compassion and...
In April, we introduced you to Sergeant Scott Urban, who shared why he chose to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon:...
As Communications and Marketing Officer, I produce a lot of content for our website and other channels, but I couldn’t...
This Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme is Take Action. Meaningful action starts with understanding what we may be missing. Forces children often...
A new free, one-to-one online tutoring service for young people from serving Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families...
Young people aged 11-17 are invited to take complete a 20-30 survey and take part in this research project about...
As Camouflaged in the education system makes clear, children and young people from Armed Forces families are too often present, but unseen: their unique experiences are overlooked in systems that aren’t yet designed with mobility,...
We’re happy to be one of 11 projects helping Forces families feel at home after a move, thanks to funding...
Robert Reid recently joined Forces Children Scotland as a Policy and Campaigns Officer and is working to champion the rights...
Continuing our series on real-life Forces children’s experiences, here are some reflections from young people involved in our participation work,...
Lesley Ure, Community and Service Lead at King’s Group Academies, recently organised a collaborative event in Helensburgh around Scotland’s Schools:...
In this blog, we will look back at a few memories which have stuck with Forces children to celebrate the...
Meg Thomas, our Deputy CEO and Policy Lead, shares some thoughts from a Parliamentary event celebrating Month of the Military...
This May, Sergeant Scott Urban is running the Half Marathon in Edinburgh and raising money to support our work. Here...
Forces Children Scotland warmly welcomes Former Air Commodore Polly Miller-Perkins CBE to her new role as Armed Forces Commissioner. As...
Last month, Judith (our Learning and Development Worker) and Nina (our Participation Manager) were out on the road delivering our...
As we approach Month of the Military Child, it’s critical we learn from the voices and views of children and...
Let’s work together so children and young people’s voices are heard, and their rights are respected, in Scottish schools. As...
One key recommendation from our jointly produced report on Forces children’s education is to embed children and young people’s participation...
We’re grateful to be among the organisations receiving funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund 2026-27, which was recently announced by...
Children from Armed Forces families grow up with experiences that most of their peers and teachers will not understand firsthand....
What is one small, realistic step we can take to help create a fairer future for young carers from Forces...
Even with the best intentions, participation can be challenging to put into practice. Hear from our participation team about practical...
Recently, we took a step back from our day-to-day work to think about the bigger picture – with help from...
Our participation team is excited to be co-producing a unique resource supporting the wellbeing of younger children while their parent or loved one is deployed. With support from the Armed Forces...
How can we meet the needs of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community? First and foremost, by better understanding...
Louise, a Ruby Boots Volunteer Facilitator, attended a two-day training course to gain skills and knowledge about how to handle...
Marking Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week 2026, here are some reflections from Deputy CEO and Policy Lead Meg Thomas about...
Children and young people have a right to be heard and taken seriously, but what does this mean, and what...
At the most recent SCiP Conference, we saw children and young people take the floor, commanding the attention of over...
Public speaking is no easy task, let alone to a conference with over 100 delegates. Seeing children and young people...
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re privileged to reflect on what the past year has meant for us and...
Here are some reflections from Annabella Alovatti, a Volunteer Facilitator for The Ruby Boots Project and an undergraduate student of...
Remembrance is both collective and deeply personal. It connects us to the sacrifices of previous generations while inspiring us to...
The theme of Befriending Week this year is Collaboration and Partnership. Heather Douglas, coordinator for the Ruby Boots Project, discusses...
This year marks the first in our partnership with Greenwich Hospital, and we’re proud to celebrate what we have accomplished...
We’re happy to share our principles for the meaningful participation of babies, children and young people. Here are some thoughts...
We are so pleased to share that the co-developed, forces-life-specific Talking Mat is now available to children and young people....
Scottish Children’s Health Week is a time to reflect on what it really means for every child to have the...
Here is some feedback from the Ruby Boots summer sessions, plus practical tips for making wellbeing boxes with children and...
We are delighted that Forces in Mind Trust has awarded funding to this research project exploring how children and young...
Earlier this month, we brought a group of 14 young people from forces families together in Edinburgh for an action-packed...
We can provide financial support to empower young people from Regular, Reservist and Veteran families to realise their potential.
We’re proud to share the impact of our recent learning sessions delivered to teachers at Colinton Primary School in Edinburgh!...
Wesley, a former British Army soldier, completed the 2025 Edinburgh Marathon and raised almost £800 for Forces Children Scotland.
Article 31 of the UNCRC says that every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a...
