All – Naval Childrens Charity

SWIM FREE

Swim Free has been created to provide free swimming lessons for children and young people from serving Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families, aligned to the Swim England and Scottish Swimming Pathways.

Funded by Greenwich Hospital and delivered in partnership with the Andrew Simpson Foundation, Swim Free also provides an opportunity for families to build new connections and support their sense of belonging within the Royal Navy community.

Learning to swim is an essential life skill for young people, but also supports and helps them maintain positive mental health, grow their confidence, resilience, and willingness to try new things – all while keeping active.

We are currently establishing a network of delivery centres across the UK, with the first lessons underway at CTCRM Lympstone, Exmouth. Portsmouth will be the next location to launch, with lessons starting in January 2025. You can book lessons or register your interest at https://swim-free.org.uk/, as well as find out lots of helpful information on the programme. If you have registered your interest, the Swim Free team will contact you as soon as lessons come online in your area.

If you have any questions, you can contact the outreach team on enquiries@swim-free.org.uk.

Novembers Newsletter

As part of our ongoing collaboration across all three Services to improve the outcomes of our Children and Young People (CYP), The Naval Children’s Charity provided funding for the SCIP Alliance to develop a set of 50 case studies in the Thriving Lives Toolkit Case Study Bank, a new tool aimed at assisting schools in better supporting Service children. This brilliant initiative seeks to offer schools a collection of evidence-based examples of best practices to help in evaluating their progress by using the Thriving Lives Toolkit self-assessment.

The initial seven case studies are now accessible to schools nationwide, showcasing practical implementations of the seven principles of effective support in real school settings. They represent a variety of primary and secondary schools in different phases of the self-assessment process—emerging, developing, and embedding—and cater to the unique needs of Service children across diverse school environments, ranging from those with only a few to those with many Service children.

The case study bank will serve as a searchable database, enabling school staff to learn from the experiences of others and apply valuable insights to their own contexts. Each question within the Toolkit has been exemplified as part of this project, aiding schools in recognizing successful practices within their own settings and identifying steps for enhancing support. Ultimately, a total of 50 case studies will be published, creating a comprehensive resource that will continue to support schools as they work with our Service CYP.

The Thriving Lives Toolkit helps all Service children, so I urge you to ask your child’s school if they have engaged with the Thriving Lives Toolkit to ensure that they are providing best practice for supporting your child.

With education in mind, the UCAS website has a whole host of new information on there, young people from Year 9 can start looking at it rather than waiting until nearer the time they want to apply for university.

The website now includes:

Career guides, industry guides and employer guides
Taster courses
Virtual work experience
Apprenticeship opportunities

There are also teacher toolkits on there for Service children plus other cohorts, and schools have access to the UCAS Outreach Connection Services, however next year this will be available on the hub for all. You’ll find all the information here.

We are thrilled to announce that in 2025 we will celebrate the bicentenary of The Naval Children’s Charity, marking 200 years of support to the children of Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families. Over the past two centuries, the Charity has evolved from our original orphanages to our delivery today, improving the wellbeing and resilience of Naval children, and we continue to make a meaningful difference in their lives. This incredible milestone reflects the Charity’s enduring commitment to helping families navigate the unique challenges of Naval life. We will be celebrating throughout 2025, we plan on hosting a number of events and initiatives, and asking you to join us, support us, raise money for us and be part of our future. Please keep your eyes on our website and social media channels to find out more.

Best wishes,

Clare Scherer MBE
Chief Executive Officer, Naval Children’s Charity

Christmas Pottery Workshops

We have two FREE Christmas Pottery Workshops coming up...

Sat 30th Nov, 10am-midday (ages 6-15) with Fat Clay Pottery in Southsea
Sat 7th Dec, 10:30am-12:30pm (ages 8-15) with Poppins Potter in Torquay.

The sessions will give children the chance to get hands on with pottery, be creative and make their own seasonal masterpiece!

Sessions are run by qualified and experienced instructors who can support the children with their creative processes.

Book your space now

Winter Warmth Network

Looking for quick and easy support to help with your energy bills this winter?

Lightning Reach is a free, secure online portal that helps you find and apply for financial assistance – all in one place. Whether you need help covering rising energy costs, making your home more energy-efficient, or affording winter essentials, Lightning Reach is here to connect you with the support you need.

Lightning Reach matches users to over 2,500 schemes from charities, organisations, and councils across the UK, with successful applicants receiving £1,070 on average*.

Here’s how it works:

Fill out a simple profile: In just 10-15 minutes, answer a few questions on the website, and Lightning Reach will generate a personalised list of financial support options available to you. This includes targeted help with energy bills, home improvements to boost energy efficiency, warm clothing, and essential winter supplies.
Apply for support: Apply directly through the portal to multiple programs without having to repeatedly enter your information. From grants to local council funding, you’ll find everything in one place.
Get support quickly: Lightning Reach streamlines the process, gathering all the information needed for organisations to assess your application, so you can receive help faster.

Lightning Reach uses modern, secure technology to protect your information, ensuring your details and documents are kept safe.

Visit Lightning Reach at https://www.lightningreach.org/application-portal

Trustee Recruitment

The Naval Children’s Charity supports the wellbeing and development of children and young people from Royal Navy and Royal Marine families (including the Reserves and Royal Fleet Auxiliary), serving and veteran, in recognition of the unique situations they and their families face.

The only one of our Armed Forces to have a dedicated Children’s Charity, our vision is that every RN and RM child and young person has their spirit and talent unlocked, giving them a brighter future and helping them to realise their full potential.

For those in crisis we provide financial grants in support, mental health and wellbeing support and signposting and partnerships to improve the quality of life and address the range of needs our children experience. In 2023/24 we spent £2.5m on delivering our welfare services, helping over 2,200 children and young people.

Could you help us to continue to change the lives of our children now and in the future by becoming a trustee?

We are seeking two trustees to join us in Autumn 2024 for an initial term of three years: one trustee with experience of Digital/IT and one to support Finance/Funding to support our growing programmes by helping the Charity in developing new income streams. Experience of RN service is an advantage. Both roles are voluntary, however reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be paid.

For more information about the role please download the information pack below or contact Jo McEvoy, Head of Finance on jo.mcevoy@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 4^th October 2024.

Interviews will be held Oct 24 (TBA)

We welcome applications from all candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role irrespective of their background, community, industry or protected characteristics.

We operate safer selection practices, and this will involve the successful candidate being required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check. We reserve the right to close this campaign early if sufficient applications are received. No agencies please.

Summer Holiday Advice & Tips

For many children, the summer holidays can be a very exciting time of the year providing a sense of freedom and opportunity. With the usual routine on hold, and school and homework a distant memory, the summer holidays present an opportunity to have fun, get out and about and spend quality time with friends and family making new memories. Whilst the summer holidays can be one of the highlights of the year for children, it is important to acknowledge that the long school break may not bring everyone infinite joy, particularly parents and caregivers who have to juggle work, life and all the practical challenges the six-week holiday presents!

CHALLENGES AND TIPS:
CHALLENGE: Arguably the biggest challenge of the summer holidays is childcare! Trying to source suitable and affordable childcare and keep everyone happy for the duration of the summer can feel like a very daunting task. Add to the mix a bit of parental/ caregiver guilt and it can quickly feel very stressful and overwhelming! For our families based in Scotland, we are mindful that the school holidays start in June and end in mid-August. Therefore, managing childcare can be particularly difficult as most holiday periods in Naval establishments will follow the English school holiday system.

TIP: PLAN AHEAD. It may sound simple, but preparation and teamwork are key!

Utilise some of your annual leave in the summer to allow you to spend some uninterrupted quality time with your children. If you are a two parent/ caregiver household, it can help to split your leave to reduce childcare costs although we acknowledge that this can impact on spending time together as a family.
Speak to family and friends in advance of the summer to see if you can help one another out with childcare.
Be proactive in looking for summer clubs and camps (e.g. Kings Camp). These are often in very high demand and places go very quickly as such, it is crucial that you start proactively looking in advance of the summer! It is of note that often your local authority will run groups and clubs throughout the summer some of which will offer provision for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). Local churches will also run groups through the summer. However, these may not be clearly advertised so you may have to do some digging! In addition to this, your local naval base may run some groups throughout the summer.
It is always worth speaking with your child’s school to see what provisions they offer throughout the summer.

CHALLENGE: Keeping your children entertained and yourself sane! Regardless of how much you love and adore your children, there is no disputing that the summer holidays are long and can be an emotional rollercoaster for both you and your children. Some days you will thrive, other days you will just survive and that is ok! For our serving families who may not have local family support or may be facing the summer with a deployed parent, finding the motivation and enthusiasm needed to entertain your children day after day can be very difficult. For children with special educational needs disabilities, we are mindful that the summer holidays can be a challenging and overwhelming time. Lots of provisions now run SEND sessions which can reduce some of the external stresses and make activities more accessible and enjoyable for children with additional needs. These sessions are worth looking into and utilising if they apply to your family.

TIP: Plan ahead, reach out and do not be hard on yourself! Even a quick trip to the park can be enough to break the boredom and let your children burn off some energy and if you are struggling, do not be afraid to reach out. We understand that the demands of service can exacerbate the stress of the summer holidays so do not suffer alone. Reach out to friends and families or, if needed, speak to one of our caseworkers who are always at the end of the phone!

CHALLENGE: The summer holidays are costly! Whether you are having to fund additional childcare, pay for days out or spend more money on groceries, your finances often take a big hit! Parents and caregivers often put a lot of pressure on themselves to give their children a “summer to remember” and these feelings can be exacerbated by the echoes of blissfully unaware children shouting, “I’m bored” or “it’s not fair that we can’t do…”! Social media can also add on additional pressure with parents/ caregivers feeling they are not living up to a perceived expectation.

TIP: Keep things simple and manage your children’s expectations. You cannot do it all and it ok for your children to feel bored at times!

Ask your child to tell you one or two things they would like to do over the summer. Their answers may surprise you and it always helps if you and your child can be on the same page when it comes to activities!
Look into and make use of any voucher schemes that may be on offer in your area. Often supermarkets and brands will run voucher schemes which can be used to fund what can be very expensive days out, this is a handy way of keeping costs down.
Often food, drink and parking can really increase the price of a day out. Taking your own food and drink and parking slightly further out can help reduce costs.
Utilise the perks of the Defence Discount Card – if you don’t have one, get one!
Look at online resources – the money saving expert website is a great resource and provides lots of information about how to maximise your money throughout the summer. Local authority websites are also a good resource and will often list what activities they have on throughout the summer and will also list where children can get free or heavily discounted food and drink, so this is also worth a look.
For our families in Scotland, you have some beautiful scenery and historic sites to explore, including but not limited to Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh, and Glencoe. All of these are accessible via public transport and with Scots Rail’s “Kids for a quid” ticket, up to four children can travel for just £1.00 return each with an adult. This is available all year round and can make exploring with your family great value for money. In addition to the discounted train travel, all young people aged 22 years and under who reside in Scotland can travel on the bus free of charge with their Young Scot of NEC card, both of which can be applied for online. The Young Scot card also enables young people to access discounts on days out, food and drink so is worth looking into if you haven’t already!
The Edinburgh Fringe is held annually in Scotland’s Capital – this year’s event runs from 2^nd August – 26^th August and features a variety of performances which are suitable for the whole family, some of which are free/ low cost. This event can be a great day out for the family but be warned, it does get busy, and Edinburgh is known for its cobbled streets and hilly terrain!
Check out our website for information on our life chances programme. We have various activities running throughout the summer for a range of ages and abilities which may be of interest to your child!
Follow local social media accounts for inspiration as to what is going on in your local area but remember, social media accounts only give a snapshot of someone else’s life so don’t put additional pressure on yourself.

CHALLENGE: The Weather! The good old British weather has a reputation for ruining the best laid plans and this can cause headaches during the summer holidays! For our families based in or visiting Scotland, I am reliably informed by Allison, our Scottish outreach worker, that Faslane Naval Base located in the West of Scotland is indeed the wettest part of the UK and therefore a brolly is always essential!

TIP: Always ensure you have a “wet weather plan” that you can fall back on. A craft box is always handy to have within easy reach during the summer. Sensory play, board games, puzzles, fort and robot building out of old cardboard boxes can also provide hours of entertainment on a rainy day with children. Play dates, sleepovers with friends and movie nights at home can also provide some much needed joy on rainy days!

ACTIVITIES
It is important to remember that days out do not always have to be costly and extravagant. Of course, it is nice to treat your children to a day of fun at the zoo or the theme park. But often for children, the uninterrupted quality time they get to spend with their parents/ caregivers and friends is what makes the summer holidays priceless. With this in mind here are some fun activities our caseworkers have done with their children during previous summer holidays:

The paddling pool is always a winner – no matter what the age, and it doesn’t have to be huge or expensive. Just be aware of safety and don’t leave the little ones unattended. An umbrella over the paddling pool for sun protection is vital. All the bathroom and other toys are great in the paddling pool, and I often used a combination of water balls, water guns, buckets and the hosepipe also provide hours of endless fun for free.
My daughter and I used to go for a walk in the woods. I used to take a picnic with us and we would build a den out of branches. Once the den had been built we would have a picnic in it with her teddy.
My children and I would visit the beach to “skim stones” trying hard not to hit the submarines underneath! We would also keep a diary of what we did and send Dad an email or family gram to keep him updated on the fun we were having.
We would often go to the beach. We would park further away and walk to the beach to avoid car parking costs. I would take food and drink with us – I would freeze a bottle of squash which not only kept food cool, but also meant we had a cold beverage to drink throughout the day! We wouldn’t go to the ice-cream van because it would cost a fortune. Instead, I would stop on the way home and get us a McFlurry.
We would make miniature pizzas and regularly bake – for the pizzas I would buy savoury muffins. I would cut them in half and put tomato puree on them. My daughter would then chop up all the ingredients and make the pizzas and I would them grill them.
I would take my son to the cinema. Often the cinema would have offers on tickets during the summer which I would make the most of. I would take sweets and popcorn with me to keep the costs down.

Other activities:

Bike rides
Go to the local park/ adventure playground – take a picnic
Join the local library – they often have reading challenges for children to get involved with
Geocaching – children can partake in treasure and scavenger hunts using their mobile phones.

Most importantly, remember to have fun!

Art from Waste Competition

The Art from Waste Competition invites naval children and young people to turn everyday waste materials into extraordinary works of art. It’s an opportunity to showcase how sustainability and a little creativity can produce treasures from trash.

Looking to keep your young people entertained this summer holiday? Get them to create a masterpiece inspired by recycling. They are welcome to use any art technique, be it painting, sculpture, textiles or collages, as long as they are using recycled materials.

There are three age categories: 0-6yrs, 7-12yrs and 13yrs plus, and prizes with Amazon gift vouchers.

1^st Prize – £100

2^nd Prize -£50

3^rd Prize -£20

Entries are to be sent to: Naval Children’s Charity, Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, PO2 8RN.

Or in the case of Scottish entries: The Family Hub, Churchill Square, Helensburgh, G84 9HN

The closing date for this competition is Monday 2^nd September and unfortunately, we will not be able to return entries.

Happy Crafting!

HMS Oardacious and Huggable Heroes

HMS Oardacious’ Submarine Service Mental Health Fund launches its "Huggable Heroes" initiative, aiming to bring comfort to children of Submariners.

As part of Month of the Military Child, HMS Oardacious is launching its new “Huggable Heroes” initiative in conjunction with a film highlighting some of the challenges faced by children with a Submariner parent. (Scroll down for film)

In the film, Sophie Fraser (Families Representative for the HMS Oardacious Management Committee) shares her experience as the spouse of a Submariner with two young children and explains some of the ways that HMS Oardacious is working with other organisations and experts to advocate for this unique community. Sophie’s husband, Callum Fraser, rowed across the Atlantic in both the 2019 and 2022 HMS Oardacious teams, and Sophie has been intrinsically involved in the project since it was created in 2018.

HMS Oardacious’ Submarine Service Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is delighted to announce its funding of a pilot project purchasing 250 Huggable Heroes® vouchers for the children of Submariners currently assigned to Submarines . Huggable Heroes are cuddly toys printed with a photograph of their serving parent, aiming to help children deal with the challenges of separation during the deployment period. During the trial project, those eligible will be contacted by the Royal Navy to provide more details on how to claim their voucher.

Sophie says: “Members of our organisation have each experienced many deployments and the impact these can have on Mental Health. As such, the team are incredibly passionate about being ambassadors for Mental Health and Wellbeing for both serving personnel and their families and that it is as important to support the families as it is the serving personnel within the Royal Navy. As such, one of the aims of the HMS Oardacious – Submarine Service Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is dedicated to finding ways to support children of serving personnel who can have varying reactions to a deployment. The Huggable Heroes® toys represent their parents and give children a tangible reminder of their parent looks like, so they can feel close to them even though in reality they’re a long way away. As we celebrate Month of the Military Child, it was the perfect time to announce the pilot project”.

Cdr Matthew Main, Marine Engineer Officer and Skipper of the HMS Oardacious 2023 Rowing Crew, explains the importance of supporting Submariner families. “We’re trained for it, when we deploy we’re with other submariners who are literally in the same boat… but our families haven’t signed up for it necessarily, certainly the children haven’t. Charities and organisations like HMS Oardacious are there to helping to look after your family and to support them through a difficult period.”

Sophie is joined in the film by Helen Mason, Occupational and EMDR Therapist and Co-Founder of The Submarine Mermaid Postal Service Project, a first of its kind project to support young children during submarine deployments where a parent, carer or relative is on deployment to contact the shore. Helen’s involvement in the film highlights the importance of peer support and the resourcefulness of our Submarine family’s community.

The HMS Oardacious – Submarine Service Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, supported by RNRMC, is committed to funding resources, projects and events that support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Submariners and their families during the deployment cycle. Deployment cycles are a challenging period for everyone involved, not just when the serving person is at sea but also in the pre and post deployment period and the Submarine Service places significant demand on the time of their personnel which can impact their ability to have a normal routine, even when the platform is alongside. The fund is always interested in requests for grants which can help reduce the Mental Health and Wellbeing impact of this part of Royal Navy life.

HMS Oardacious welcome grant requests, for more application guidance and eligibility criteria, visit https://www.rnrmc.org.uk/apply-grant/hms-oardacious-fund.

HMS Oardacious have a website, www.hmsoardacious.com and can be found on Instagram, Facebook and X @HMSOardacious

Huggable Heroes® are an award winning toy, lovingly handmade in Norfolk, England. The Heroes fit perfectly under little arms to carry around and they are small enough for older children to tuck into school bags. Find out more at www.huggableheroes.uk.

Youth Voice Survey 2024

Tri-Service Youth Voice Survey 2024

Led by the Tri-Service Youth Voice Steering Group, this survey aims to gather the opinions of as many youth voices as possible. Whether you are addressing the challenges of frequent relocations, social barriers, accessing further education, or work opportunities, every voice matters. The survey is anonymous, ensuring young people may express themselves freely.

The survey will capture military children’s perspectives, insights, and suggestions. After all, being a part of a Service family can have unique experiences and challenges. The voices of our military youth are vital in shaping the support services and initiatives provided to military families.

Help us amplify the voices of our Armed Forces youth community by completing the survey today!

Don’t miss out on the survey’s closing date, Friday 31 May 2024.

If you want to be involved in your area’s youth voice, then please contact the MOD today.

Tech Camp

Engineering and Programming Camps

This coming summer, the Naval Children’s Charity are running a programme to help fund places at Tech Camp’s week-long residential engineering and programming camps for children aged 9-17. We are delighted to be able to offer discounted and, in some cases upon application, some further subsidised, places with the different courses offered by Tech Camp based near Winchester.

Campers choose a particular topic for the week with bookings open for four weeks from Monday July 28th to Friday August 23rd . There are lots of high-tech options from building robots and gadgets, to learning how to fly drones, operate 3D printers, and design computer games. Uniquely, all campers get to take home the equipment they have built so the learning and experimentation can continue after camp finishes.

To see the range of courses on offer this summer, go to www.techcamp.org.uk/all-courses. If you’d like to apply for a funded position on one of these courses, you can find out more about how we are supporting families for this event and fill in an application form here.