Gary Seath 7 months ago
The roadshow event will provide opportunities to participate in activities and listen to the voices of children from armed forces communities to enhance empathy and understanding about what it means to be a child from a military family today.
Over 12,500 children from armed forces communities live in Scotland. Many who engaged with the charity have said they feel their unique experiences aren’t widely understood, nor is it appreciated how life can prove different and impact many aspects of their lives.
They can grasp greater opportunities to travel, participate in activities off-limits to civilian peers, and absorb diverse cultures, whilst face challenges associated with regular relocations, parental deployment, family separation, and much more.
Helensburgh is home to 4,800 naval personnel and their families, equating to 40% of regular forces based in Scotland. Many of these children can experience considerably longer parental deployments, compared to other branches of the British Armed Forces.
Lotty (pictured below) is from a Naval family in Helensburgh, who said:
“I don’t get to see my dad as much as some other people do, and when I say to my teachers that my dad is away, they automatically think he’s away for the weekend or a week, but he’s been away for about six months.
“When I was in primary six, he went away and got back in March when I was in primary seven. That’s the longest deployment he’s been on, and he was away for 430 days in total, I got to see him for 20 of them.
“Month of the Military Child is about remembering and recognising what we and our parents sacrifice. This is something new, so I’m excited about the event later this month and encourage others to come along to learn more about the lives we lead.”
Laura Falconer, Chief Executive Officer of Forces Children Scotland, said:
“Edinburgh has a very proud military heritage which serves as the perfect location to start our Month of the Military Child Roadshow.
“The event is an opportunity for armed forces families, professionals, policymakers, and interested members of the public to come together to learn more about the experiences of children from military families.
“From forging new connections and meeting their unique support needs to finding out more about advocating for their rights and supporting our work within communities across Edinburgh and beyond, we are putting the voice of children and young people from Armed Forces Families at the heart of our event on Wednesday 24 April.”
ENDS
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The roadshow event is free to attend and will take place at the Drumfork Community Centre on Monday 29 April 2024, from 4pm-6pm.
Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite: Month of the Military Child Roadshow | Helensburgh Tickets, Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite
For more information please contact Gary Seath, Marketing, Communications, and Development Manager at: gary.seath@forceschildrenscotland.org.uk
Images have been attached to this release.
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