Veterans Foundation fund vital mental health service for forces children

The Veterans Foundation has awarded a generous grant to meet mental health and wellbeing support needs of children and young people from armed forces and veteran families.

It will be used to fund Forces Children Scotland’s Lighthouse Project services that supports pupils at Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, which is a boarding school for those who have parents serving or have served in the British Armed Forces.

The service was launched last year to provide one-to-one support, drop-in sessions, and peer mentorship activities, which improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes for 92% of pupils receiving one-to-one support, and 96% of drop-in session attendees.

Funding from the Veterans Foundation will ensure the Lighthouse Project continues to run for pupils at Queen Victoria School for the 2023/24 academic term, during what proves a challenging time for third-sector organisations to secure funding.

The charity listened to the voices of pupils and staff in developing the Lighthouse Project, who have expressed the importance of continuing this service.

James, an S2 pupil at Queen Victoria School, said:

“You can go there if you are feeling like you need to get a weight off your mind and come out smiling.  We really want to keep the Lighthouse Project services going because pupils need a space that is just for them and can help them in a time of trouble. It is only just beginning – Let the Lighthouse Shine!”

Jill Adams, Deputy Headteacher (Pupil Support) at Queen Victoria School, said:

“QVS is extremely grateful to the Veterans Foundation who have funded Forces Children Scotland’s Wellbeing Worker post to support our pupils within school.

“Having this post funded gives our boarders bespoke mental health and wellbeing support when needed. With many of them having parents on deployment, living far away, and coping with service life’s many changes and challenges, this funding supports them to thrive and develop resilience in a pupil-centred space.”

The funding award continues to strengthen Forces Children Scotland’s partnership with Queen Victoria School in continuing to work together to meet the unique support needs of over 290 pupils from the armed forces community.

Laura Falconer, Chief Executive Officer at Forces Children Scotland, said:

“We are delighted to have received funding from the Veteran Foundation to continue delivery of our Lighthouse Project services at Queen Victoria School.

“We listened to the voice of pupils to launch this important service and the feedback received from pupils and staff has demonstrated how effective the support put in place has proved to be over the past year.

“Like many third-sector organisations, we are acutely aware of the challenging environment we find ourselves in to secure funding. That’s why we are so appreciative of the Veterans Foundation support, as it will allow us to continue to meet the mental health and wellbeing support needs of pupils at Queen Victoria School.”

Want to find out more about the Lighthouse Project? Click on the link below.