Impact Report (April 2025−March 2026)

Measuring our impact

This year, we redefined what success looks like for us, in partnership with The SCiP Alliance Impact Centre.

In doing so, we were guided by a simple principle: working with, not for, children and young people.

Swipe to see our six new outcomes and a glimpse at how we measured up to them. →

1. More supported and informed parents and families in the early years

Inspired by what we heard from families and partners in the children’s sector, we have made a conscious effort to increase our support for the early years. As one practitioner who undertook training with us reflected: “it’s important to leave a place for very young children that don’t have a voice yet.”

In Partnership with Early Years Scotland, our learning team reached 87 people in webinars and delivered in-person training to 21 practitioners.

One participant reflected: “It particularly made me think about the experience of babies during deployment — this is something we have not really focused on previously.”

2. Improved physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing for children and young people

This year, we have made strides in improving children and young people’s wellbeing by offering direct support and inviting them to co-design and deliver support for their peers.

Ruby Boots offered 52 peer support sessions for children and young people experiencing the transition to civilian life, with one participant sharing: “It made me feel more confident in talking about what is going on.” (Pictured: a group of young people making their own wellbeing boxes during the summer programme).

We also supported wellbeing through the Lighthouse project, Your Mind Matters, and a grants programme for university and college students.

3. Increased skills development and education support for children and young people

The Forces Children’s Rights Charter contains a clear message about school: “My education needs to be about more than my academic achievements.”

We have created opportunities for children and young people to gain lifelong, practical skills as leaders and contributors to our projects, including:

• 51 children involved in developing a Deployment Rollercoaster for primary-aged children
• Young people completing a financial education programme and co-producing a Financial Readiness Hub for their peers
• Young people leading Ruby Boots peer support, including these three buddies from Madras College

4. Children and young people are more empowered to participate in decision making that affects their lives

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) enshrines children’s rights to have their voices taken seriously. The meaningful participation of children and young people drives everything we do, including youth-led initiatives in schools across Scotland.

This year saw the launch of the Forces Children’s Rights Charter: “It was mainly about identifying what the core issues we feel as a Forces child, and then coming up with a charter of the rights that we feel everybody should pay attention to follow.” —Lizzie

Our participation team also delivered 109 sessions, engaging 236 children and young people in youth-led activities.

5. Increased awareness and improved understanding of Forces life in professional practice

We’ve reached further across sectors through partnership, putting the lived experience of children and young people from Armed Forces families at the centre, and giving professionals the knowledge and confidence to support them.

At the SCiP Alliance Conference in Glasgow, we facilitated an opportunity for children and young people from Armed Forces families to present their experiences and views to over 100 delegates.

“I can genuinely say that this was the most meaningful and authentic experience of young people’s engagement in a conference.” —Senior Education Officer, Ministry of Defence

6. Communities, systems and societies better supporting babies, children and young people from Forces families

While providing direct support and empowering professionals is essential to our mission, we are also working towards systemic change for babies, children and young people, with their voices and rights leading the way.

This year, we were commissioned by The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) to produce a report exploring the experiences of children and young people from Armed Forces families in Scottish schools. 145 children and young people contributed to these findings.

The Forces Children’s Rights Charter has also become a key influencing tool. In the words of Cadence, who contributed to 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.”