About Scotty's little soldiers
Scotty's Little Soldiers: A Charity for Bereaved Military Children
Scotty's Little Soldiers is a UK-based charity that provides support to children who have lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces. The charity was founded by Nikki Scott, whose husband Corporal Lee Scott was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Nikki wanted to create something positive out of her tragedy and help other families going through similar experiences.
The charity is named after Nikki's husband, who was known as "Scotty" to his colleagues. The name also reflects the fact that the children supported by the charity are "little soldiers" themselves, dealing with loss and grief at a young age.
Scotty's Little Soldiers provides a range of services to bereaved military children, including emotional support, activity weekends and holidays, educational grants and respite breaks. The aim is to help these children build happy memories and develop coping strategies for their loss.
One of the key ways that Scotty's Little Soldiers supports bereaved military children is through its membership programme. Children who have lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces can become members of the charity for free. This gives them access to all sorts of activities and events throughout the year, from cinema trips and bowling parties to Christmas parties and summer camps.
The membership programme also includes birthday presents for each child on their special day – something that can be particularly difficult for families dealing with loss. These gifts are tailored to each child's interests and hobbies, helping them feel valued and remembered on their birthday.
In addition to its membership programme, Scotty's Little Soldiers runs various fundraising events throughout the year. These include sponsored challenges such as skydives or marathons, as well as more family-friendly events like fun runs or bake sales.
All money raised goes towards supporting bereaved military children – whether it be funding activity weekends or providing educational grants so they can pursue their dreams despite their loss.
One particularly important aspect of Scotty's Little Soldiers' work is its support for children who are facing significant milestones without their parent. This might include starting school, taking exams or getting married. The charity provides emotional and practical support to help these children navigate these important moments in their lives.
Scotty's Little Soldiers has received widespread recognition for its work supporting bereaved military children. In 2019, the charity was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award a UK voluntary group can receive.
The charity has also been supported by a number of high-profile individuals and organisations, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who made a donation to the charity as part of their wedding celebrations in 2018.
In conclusion, Scotty's Little Soldiers is an incredibly important charity that provides vital support to bereaved military children across the UK. Through its membership programme, fundraising events and range of services, it helps these children build happy memories and develop coping strategies for their loss. If you're looking to support a worthy cause that makes a real difference in people's lives, then Scotty's Little Soldiers is definitely worth considering.