National and local services
Defence Children Services (DCS) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This provides:
- Information about the Education Advisory Team (UK)
- Information about the Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST)
- Other services provided by DCS
- Further information
Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA)
This is the Tri-Service military charity offering practical and emotional help to all members, current and past, of the armed forces.
They exist to relieve need, suffering and distress amongst the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families to support their independence and dignity. Links are below…
Army Families Federation (AFF)
The Army Families Federation (AFF) is the independent voice of Army families and works to improve the quality of life for Army families around the world – on any aspect that is affected by the Army lifestyle. AFF is independent of the Army and offers confidential advice.
Army Welfare Service (AWF)
The Army Welfare Service (AWS) is the Army’s professional welfare provider; it delivers a comprehensive and confidential welfare service responsive to the needs of individuals, families, and the Chain of Command in order to maximise the operational effectiveness of Service Personnel.
The Army Welfare Service (AWS) | The British Army (mod.uk)
Army&You
Army & You is a magazine published by the Army Families Federation – you can find a variety of articles and information, including different schools, childcare updates, and content on supporting families with SEND. Many of the articles are useful to all three services, not just the Army if you are a military family with children.
Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO)
Cobseo, as the Confederation of Service Charities, provides a single point of contact for interaction with Government, including local government and the Devolved Administrations; with the Royal Household; with the Private Sector; and with other members of the Armed Forces Community. This allows Cobseo Members to interact with all interested parties and especially to cooperate and collaborate with others in order to provide the best possible level of support to beneficiaries.
Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF)
The FANDF is run for and by military families who have a child or adult with additional needs or disabilities. It provides families and individuals with an opportunity to discuss ways of ensuring that both children and adults with additional needs and disabilities have access to the best support available. FANDF have annual meetings where they invite specialist services to share about their role and how this might support or help families with children or young people with additional needs and disabilities. Membership is free. Their Facebook site has a lot of information about moving/ moved to a new location and a lot of other information for children, young people and adults with additional needs and disabilities.
Naval Families Federation (NFF)
The Naval Families Federation (NFF) is an independent and confidential service that offers advice for Naval families and works to improve the quality of life for Naval families around the world – on any aspect that is affected by the Naval lifestyle.
Royal Air Force Families Federation (RAF-FF)
The Royal Air Force Families Federation (RAF-FF) is independent and offers confidential advice to Royal Air Force families. It works to improve the quality of life for RAF families around the world – on any aspect that is affected by the RAF lifestyle.
Service Children in State Schools (SCISS)
Service Children In State Schools (SCISS) is a voluntary affiliated network of state–maintained schools in England that have any Service children on roll, no matter the number. SCISS is led by a National Executive Advisory Committee (NEAC) comprising of headteachers; Local Authority officers/advisers; representatives from the three-Armed Forces Families Federations and representatives from the Service Children Progression Alliance (SCiP), the DfE and the MOD’s Directorate for Children and Young People (DCYP) Global Education Team.
The Service Children’s Progression Alliance (SCiP Alliance)
The SCiP Alliance, hosted by the University of Winchester, is a partnership of institutions and organisations who are focused on improving educational outcomes for children from military families. The SCiP Alliance is supported by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). There is a UK-wide Hub Network, which brings together practitioners and policy makers to collaborate on research and activities to enhance Service children’s experiences.
The Yorkshire and North East Hub is lead by the York and North Yorkshire Uni Connect partnership, Inspiring Choices, and is supported by universities across the region, including York St John University. Find out more about the Hubs and how they can support you and your child here: SCiP Alliance Hub Network.
The Yorkshire and North East Hub can be contacted via email: scip@yorksj.ac.uk.
Supporting your child when they apply to university.
Children whose parent(s) or carer(s) is serving or has served in the UK Armed Forces may have a slightly different experience applying to university than those from a non-service background and will have unique experiences and skills. Universities will want to hear about their experiences. Since 2023 the UCAS application system now includes questions to identify students from UK Armed Forces families and Veterans and Service leavers.
The SCiP Alliance have created multiple resources around scholarships, additional support, and application guidance which can be found on their website.
Inspiring Choices have also created a series of guides for students, parents/carers, and teachers who are supporting young people from Service backgrounds and their UCAS applications.
Here is their link – INSPIRING CHOICES
Service Childrens Champion
Supporting Service children in North Yorkshire
The Service Children’s Champion was first established in 2012 and it’s role is to support Service children, their families and professionals who are responsible for their care. They organise and host a range of event throughout the school year in order to raise awareness and to give Service children an opportunity to come together and celebrate. The team also provides well-being courses and resources, facilitates Service Children Network meetings, and will advocate on behalf of Service children. On their website you will see their newsletter of all the local and national updates too.
Service children do face lots of barriers and challenges due to the impact of their parent’s military career such as frequent moves, gaps in learning and struggling with the loss of friendships, however there are also many positive aspects of the force’s lifestyle. It is important that the experiences and needs of service children and young people are understood and to celebrate their contribution to society through events such as the Annual Service to Remember and the Month of the Military Child. The North Yorkshire Children’s Champion has resources on her site for parents, children and professionals as well as shows the events taking place. You can also sign up to the children’s champion newsletter.
Here is the link for North Yorkshire’s children’s champion- Home > Services Children’s Champion (servicechildrenschampion.co.uk)
The Royal British Legion (TRBL) Respite
The Royal British Legion are the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 235,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities; helping give support wherever and whenever it’s needed. They can support or signpost to several different organisations. TRBL can provide relevant information about grants too.
Click here to Learn more about TRBL
Veterans’ Gateway
The Veterans’ Gateway put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the advice and support they need. They also have an App that helps veterans find support organisations in their area.
Learn more about the Veterans’ Gateway by clicking this link.