Who are the Armed Forces Community?
The Armed Forces Community includes:
- Serving personnel (regular and reserves) in the British Armed Forces which includes the British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy
- Their families and carers
- Veterans
Issues Common to Service Children
- Moving house multiple times
- Leaving schools and friendships and starting new ones
- Living away from extended family
- Living apart from a serving parent
- Hearing news reports about conflicts
- Bereavement
Supporting Service Children in North Yorkshire
The Service Children’s Champion team was first established in 2012 and its role is to support Service children, their families and professionals who are responsible for their care. They organise and host a range of events throughout the school year in order to raise awareness and to give Service children an opportunity to come together and celebrate. Find out more information here.
Getting More Help
Kooth
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has partnered with Kooth to provide online mental health and wellbeing support for children with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas, aged 11 until their 19th birthday.
The free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing platform allows children and young people to chat with a friendly mental health practitioner, find support from a helpful community or use a range of self-help tools.
Visit the Kooth Website
Scotty's Little Soldiers
If you are a child or young person who has experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces, you could receive specialist bereavement support from Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
Visit the Scotty's Little Soldiers Website
Togetherall
Togetherall is a 24/7 community of ordinary people, moderated by clinical professionals, where people in the British Military, Veterans & Family can get (or give) the mental health support they need.
Visit the Togetherall Website
Little Troopers
Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all military children who have parent(s) serving in our British Armed Forces, regular or reserve.
Visit the Little Troopers Website
Reading Force
Reading Force uses books to bring Forces children and families closer together through a shared reading initiative. Families are encouraged to read, talk, and scrapbook about a book, improving communication and enriching relationships with books and each other.
Visit the Reading Force Website
The Children's Society
The Children’s Society is a national charity working to transform the hopes and happiness of young people facing abuse, exploitation and neglect. On their website you can find resources for young carers within armed forces families, and training for professionals working with children, young people, or families within the armed forces community.
Visit The Children's SocietyGetting Urgent Help
If you’ve seriously injured yourself or taken an overdose call 999 or get immediate medical advice from NHS 111.
If you are in a crisis and feel like you can’t cope, speak to somebody straight away. See the Urgent Help page for contact details for the North Yorkshire single point of access Crisis Service.