PGL’s multi-activity camp

Time for an adventure at a three night multi-activity camp with PGL!

We have 5 fully funded places available at PGL’s multi-activity camp this October half term. The 3 night DISCOVER! Adventure offers young people an opportunity to experience a whole range of new activities, make new friends and build their confidence and social skills. The camp will take place at Marchant’s Hill, Surrey where activities on offer may include Archery, Climbing, Forest walks, Orienteering, Raft Building, Zip wire and many more!

The dates are Saturday 26th – Tuesday 29th October and the camp is for 11-13 year olds.

This residential camp is all-inclusive, so all activities, food, drink and accommodation are covered. Support with transport costs will also be available for those that need it.

Register your interest here.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Sign up for Lightning Reach today to see how much you could save on your energy bills this winter.

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 4th 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.

Trustees Information Pack

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 2nd August – 26th 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!

 

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.

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Other Life Chances

PGL’s multi-activity camp

Read More

Forces Employment Charity

Read More

Military Families Charity of the Year

Naval Children’s Charity delighted to be awarded ‘Military Families Charity of the Year’

The Celebrating Forces Families (CFF) Awards highlight contributions and unwavering support provided by military families and its communities and celebrates the achievements of the UK’s Armed Forces support networks.

A performance by a combined choir featuring Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir and the Military Wives choirs opened the evening celebrations.

Forces champion and Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton MBE co-presented the awards alongside Forces News presenter Sian Grzeszczyk.

One of three finalists for, and the ultimate winner of, the title of ‘Military Families Charity of the Year’, the Naval Childrens Charity supports children from naval families, up to age 25, helping around 4,000 children and young people each year with grants in times of crisis or with significant issues such as disability/illness, resources to support mental health and wellbeing, and opportunities to enhance and improve outcomes through the Life Chances Programme. The charity puts children front and centre, staff have first-hand experience of service life, they understand, have empathy, and change lives every day.

Upon winning the award CEO of the Charity, Clare Scherer MBE said:

‘We are all absolutely delighted to have won this wonderful Award.  It is a true testament to the work of the Charity and the amazing Team who do so much to change children and young people’s lives every day.  It is a privilege to do what we do to support our Naval children but to be acknowledged with this Award means so much.  Thank you to the Judges, all those who voted for us and to our wonderful families who support their Serving and Veteran loved ones who do so much for us all.’

Forces Employment Charity

Our partnership with the Forces Employment Charity

The Forces Employment Charity offers the military community life-long, life-changing support. The Families Programme support extends to Service children and young adults aged 16-24. The programme provides free mentorship, resources, and access to events to help individuals on their career journey.

The charity’s dedicated advisors have experience in military life and understand the importance of supporting the whole Service family, in finding fulfilling careers. Advisors will tailor support based on the unique needs of each client. Sessions can boost confidence, help widen aspirations, and explore different pathways into employment. By registering, young people can get help writing their first CV, preparing for interviews, and much more.

How it works..

We are collaborating with the Forces Employment Charity through our Life Chances Programme. Together, our organisations support children from naval families who are embarking on the Tall Ship Empowerment Voyages. The initiative will help participants understand and leverage their skills and experiences toward finding fulfilling and sustainable careers.

Following each voyage, the Forces Employment Charity will conduct dynamic activities and workshops. These sessions will help young people articulate their experiences and identify transferrable skills from their onboard. The charity invites participants aged 16 to 24 years old to register for one-to-one career support.

The Forces Employment Charity delivers ongoing support virtually, adapting to each individual’s preferred communication method, whether online, over the phone, or via email. All Forces Employment Charity staff working with children and young people are subject to enhanced DBS checks for safety and security. All communications are logged meticulously. Parents interested in engaging with their child’s caseworker can easily schedule a call.

Register with the Forces Employment Charity for bespoke career advice !

 

Other Life Chances

PGL’s multi-activity camp

Read More

Tech Camp

Read More

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas Announced as New Patron

A warm welcome to Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as our new Patron.

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has always had a close personal connection to the Royal Navy. Her father, grandfather, stepfather and uncles all served in the Navy. In 2023 she completed work on her directorial debut NORTH STAR, a feature that she co-wrote about an RN family, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

Dame Kristin is the recipient of a BAFTA Award for FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. A bilingual actress, she received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for her starring role opposite Ralph Fiennes in Academy Award-winning THE ENGLISH PATIENT.

Among her English language screen credits are DARKEST HOUR and MILITARY WIVES just to name a few.

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas was born in Cornwall. Her father was a Lieutenant Commander in the RN’s Fleet Air Arm, who tragically died in a flying accident when Kristin was at the tender age of five. She is the granddaughter of William Scott Thomas, who commanded HMS Impulsive during World War II.

In 2019 Dame Kristin took part in the series ‘My Grandfather’s War’ telling the story of her grandfather who was in Command of a destroyer and made 8 Arctic convoy voyages. He was also instrumental at Dunkirk, rescuing over a thousand men.

On becoming a Parton for the Naval Children’s Charity, Dame Scott Thomas said:

‘I am delighted to become a Patron of the Naval Children’s Charity.  The work that they do supporting Naval children and young people really resonates with me from my own experiences growing up.  The work of the charity is invaluable, and I am only too pleased to be able to endorse it.’

Having been a Naval child herself, the NCC are over the moon to have Dame Scott Thomas as a patron. CEO Clare Scherer MBE said:

‘We could not be more delighted to welcome our new Patron.  The life experience she brings to us, as a Naval child, and the inspiration she will give to our current children and young people, is amazing.  Having overcome challenges as a Naval child herself she is a fantastic role model to inspire our young people and let them know what great success they too could achieve.’

Photographer Credit: German Larkin @germanlarkin