We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees to lead our Board as we build on our 2020 Strategy.
We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees
Read how we are celebrating
Say hello to Richie England! This legend is cycling 50 miles each day for 50 days… a WHOOPING total distance of 2500 miles to raise funds for us, the RMA, Rock To Recover and the Association of Royal Navy Officers ARNO & Royal Navy Officers’ Charity RNOC.
We wish Richie all the very best in his mammoth venture and look forward to regular updates.
If you’d like to sponsor Richie, then please head here 
https://www.justgiving.com/…/richard-england-1722263249677
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.
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.
Did you know the official flower of the military child is the dandelion.
Its seeds are blown far and wide by the wind, but it will always plant roots and blossom wherever it lands. Well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient, military children know that home is where their hearts are and that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world.
April is the Month of the Military Child, a month-long focus on the important role Service children play in the Armed Forces community. It is a time to recognise Armed Forces families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.
To celebrate this month here at the Naval Children’s Charity we would love to see any artwork, poetry, short stories or the like that your children may create to celebrate this special month. If you are happy for us to share on our social media, please email the works here.
The Naval Children’s Charity are thrilled to be launching ‘Doing Distance’ – a psychological toolkit for armed forces children, to help them navigate the challenges that come with service life, particularly around separation and mobility.
Whether you are a parent of a military child, or a supporting adult from their school or local community, this new psychological toolkit has been specially designed to help support your armed forces children. This toolkit has been compiled with the help from the team at ‘Bear Us In Mind’, a group with over 30 years’ experience working directly with families around separation and loss.
The Naval Children’s Charity’s aim is for these resources to help military children and their supporting adults to navigate the highs and lows of service life. These tools will help with the processing of the challenges experienced by children and young people and enable them hold on to special memories. All these resources will be available to download for free.
Clare Scherer MBE, from the Naval Children’s Charity, said:
”We could not be more grateful to Julie Stokes and the Bear Us In Mind team for their generosity in allowing us to adapt and use this amazing toolkit. We really think it will bring help and support to lots of our families as they deal with some of the challenges that come with life as a service family.”
The ‘Doing Distance’ toolkit can be found here.
As International Women’s Day is being celebrated across the globe, here at the Naval Children’s Charity we would like to celebrate things a little closer to home. Last month our Chief Executive Officer, Clare Scherer, went to Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE from The Princess Royal, in recognition of her services to Naval families.
Clare received the award as part of His Majesty Charles III’s inaugural ‘Birthday Honours List’.
“I am extremely proud and delighted to be the recipient of this award. It truly is an honour and I am deeply grateful to HM The King,” said Ms Scherer.
First working with the NCC as a consultant in 2008, Clare was appointed CEO in 2018.
During that time, the charity has undergone a successful re-brand, commissioned extensive research into the stresses on the lives of military children in the UK, and produced a suite of resources that help Naval families cope with deployment, grief and mental health.
“The [MBE] award is in recognition of my work supporting Naval families and, in reality, the award is for my entire team of staff at the NCC,” says Clare.
“They are the ones who work closely with our families, children and young people, ensuring that their needs are met in a compassionate and meaningful way and I would like to commend them for the dedication and passion they bring to the Charity.”
At the NCC, we believe that to be the child of someone who is, or has been, in the Naval Service should be a positive and enhancing experience – something to be borne with pride.
As such, over the next few years, the NCC is expanding its ‘Life Chances’ programmes; offering all Naval children new experiences which will give them the skills to thrive in their future lives and careers.
Clare added: “We are excited to be developing our support to all our Naval Children, not just those where there is crisis driven by disability, illness or significant financial hardship.
“Many of our children and young people are impacted by their parents’ service in the Royal Navy and we look forward to providing them with resources and opportunities to help them cope and enable them to thrive, helping them to be the best they can be.”
Congratulations once again, Clare Scherer MBE.
1926-2022
The Naval Children’s Charity are deeply saddened by the death of HM The Queen. She first became our Patron as a princess and we were honoured to have her as our Patron for some 75 years. She was an inspiration to us all, steadfast and loyal, dedicated to her people. All those connected to the Royal Navy are proud to have served her. Our heartfelt condolences to her family and the Nation.
In 1945, the then Princess Elizabeth, became Patron of the Royal Navy and Royal Marine’s Children’s Trust. Her Majesty held the position for over 70 years, and has always been a fierce champion for Naval families.
This continued the Royal Family’s years of service to the Royal Navy. Her Majesty’s grandfather, George V, served for 15 years, while her father, George VI was stationed at HMS Collingworth during the First World War.
During the course of her patronage, Her Majesty’s fierce support for the children in our community allowed us to deliver so much, and brought with it some brilliant celebratory moments for Naval children.
In 2009, we were delighted to host a royal reception at St James’ Palace attended by Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, where they met many of our beneficiaries and supporters.
To celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, Naval children stitched together a very special present: a quilt made of crowns.
In 2016, we were honoured to take part in another of Her Majesty’s landmark celebrations: her 90th birthday. Representatives of the Naval Children’s Charity were invited to a reception of Her Majesty’s charities in The Mall. Later that year, she would step down from her official role as patron.
On behalf of the Naval Children’s Charity, I would like to thank Her Majesty for a lifetime of unwavering support for our cause and the Royal Navy at large. May she rest in peace.
Best wishes,
Clare Scherer, CEO of the Naval Children’s Charity
To work at sea requires a mix of interpersonal and technical knowledge. It’s all well and good knowing how to steer a boat, raise a sail or navigate the open water, but without the communication, teamwork and ability to muck in for the common good, you’ll get nowhere. Continue reading
While we view ourselves as a truly national charity, the reality of supporting Naval families means a lot of our efforts take place in a few key locations.
The concentration of Royal Navy personnel in cities such as Plymouth in the south west, and Glasgow and Dundee in Scotland means we have to target our support far and wide, but also within tight-knit communities.
One way we can make a real difference in these communities is by partnering with local businesses to deliver ongoing support and grow our profile.
A lot of our support is delivered near our headquarters in Portsmouth, a city synonymous with seafaring, and home to many currently serving and veteran personnel.
Earlier this year, the NCC entered into a partnership with Sirius Analysis, an analytics consultancy also based on the Hampshire coast.
“We wanted to help an organisation that was closer to home, and decided a charity based in the Southern Hampshire region was the best bet,” says Carl Dalton, managing director at Sirius Analysis.
“Being based in Portsmouth synergises well with our staff and enables easy interaction with fundraising and volunteering.”
As well as picking a nearby cause, Sirius also wanted to check off two further criteria. They wanted a charity that helped children, and was relevant to their work.
“The majority of Sirius’ directors and staff have a history of working in the defence sector, and it has become a part of our identity,” says Dalton.
“The Royal Navy is close to the hearts of many at Sirius, with the team having served directly, or supported in some way.
“As the NCC is all about supporting children in need, it readily ticked that criteria. We were all very moved by the work the charity does, and we’re eager to help in any way we can.”
Sirius will provide ongoing financial support, raising money for the NCC throughout the year. They will offer pro bono admin, helping the charity maximise its time in delivering vital support to Naval families and also volunteer support at events attended by the NCC around the UK.
NCC CEO Clare Scherer said: “We could not be more thrilled to have been chosen by Sirius Analytics as their charity to support.
“Financially, the money they raise will all go to our children that need our help and the fact that they also are going to volunteer with us to enable us to improve and develop our delivery of support is an added bonus.
“We are a small team that delivers a lot so any extra funding or help makes a real difference to the help we can give our children.”
If you would like to enquire about supporting the Naval Children’s Charity, please contact our CEO Clare Scherer via email. ceo@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk
About Sirius Analysis
Sirius Analysis specialises in the delivery of analysis to enable its customers to make informed investment decisions and deliver effective projects, using its core skills in Operational Research, Cost Analysis and Systems Engineering. Firmly focused on the expertise, reputation and track records of our directors and staff, the services we provide are ably supported by a diverse network of highly experienced, known and trusted associates.
Two members of the Navy walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall earlier this summer to raise funds on our behalf. Documenting the whole trek over Facebook, here’s a summary of their awesome efforts.
After suffering a serious injury during her time in service, Tracey was forced to leave the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). Along with her son Luke and their furry friend Chewbacca, they embarked on a bike ride to raise money for the Naval Children’s Charity. Continue reading
