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Funding turns youth-led idea into exciting new service

Gary Seath 1 year ago

Changes and Transition Media

We’ve turned an idea from young people into an exciting new service!

Forces Children Scotland has received funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to develop an exciting new service, called Ruby Boots.

Young people worked with the charity to co-design the new service, which seeks to encourage young people from veteran families to become buddy mentors to support peers at the beginning of this important transition.

Buddy Mentors will receive training to help peers at the beginning of their transition journey to adjust to new surroundings and routines, share lived experiences, and provide friendship through fun activities and much more.

Nina Collins, Children and Young People’s Participation Manager said

“I am so excited that the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is funding this project and very proud of the young people who worked so hard during the summer to co-produce our Ruby Boots Service. It will make a real difference to children and young people whose parents are leaving the service, providing them with a much-needed connection with another young person who really understands their experience.”

Forces Children Scotland is one of twenty-seven charities that have received grants totalling £2.6M from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities Programme.

Forces Children Scotland has received £100K from the above programme to roll out its Ruby Boots service across Central Scotland from February 2023, which will run for an initial two years with the funding it has received.

The charity has issued called on young people from veteran families living in central Scotland who are interested in becoming buddy mentors to come forward ahead of the formal launch of the new service.

A further call has been issued to educators and professionals in central Scotland who work with children from armed forces and veteran families to partner with the charity to maximise reach and engagement.

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