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Advisory Service

Advice for parents, educators, professionals, and policymakers concerning forces children and empowering them to realise their potential and thrive.

We understand that life in an armed forces family can prove very different, compared to those living in civilian communities.

It can present unique experiences, which can lead to lots of changes, new places, and different systems, particularly when families move following a new posting.

Our Advisory Service helps to provide answers to your questions.

You could be a young person, a parent or carer, an educator or professional, as well as a decision-maker at a local, regional, or national level – we are here to answer the questions that matter to you.

We can provide advice on topics like mental health and wellbeing, education, and learning, making important transitions, children’s rights, and policy.

What our Advisory Service can offer

Our Advisory Service offers advice, support and signposting.

We specialise in sharing information that helps forces families or the professionals and decision-makers around them to better understand their rights and entitlements.

You are not alone when it comes to having questions – here are some examples of enquiries we receive through our advisory service:

  1. We are a family moving from England to Scotland and have questions about the Scottish school system.
  2. I am wondering if you can tell me more about what a Learning Needs Assessment is, and if I should investigate it for my child.
  3. Can you tell me more about the different types of learning difficulties and what are the signs of ADHD in children?
  4. I am a teacher looking to understand how to support a child from an armed forces family moving to our school.
  5. We are an armed forces family, and we are looking to understand what rights our child has due to their additional support needs.
  6. I am a young person from an armed forces family looking to understand more about my rights in Scotland.

Please contact us if you think our Advisory Service can help you in any way.

Get in touch

Resources you might find useful too

Month of the military child
Forces Life Board Game & Comic Book
Your Mind Matters Hub
Learning offer for educators and professionals
Tornado of change

Crisis contact points

Please note that our Advisory Service is not a crisis service.

If you are concerned about your mental health, or if you have found yourself feeling concerned about someone else, you can:

Call 111 – NHS 24

Call 116 123 – The Samaritans

Call 0800 83 85 87 – Breathing Space

Text: ‘YM’ to 85258 – Young Minds crisis chat

If you think you are in danger of hurting yourself or other people, you should call 999 or present to your local A&E department.