Demand for better housing and lives for tiny forgotten victims of warfare
Sunday Express
They are the silent victims of warfare, the young sons and daughters who are left behind to understand, struggle and cope when their parents are away fighting for Queen and country.
Now one of the world’s most respected military research centres has launched a three-year study into the effects of military life on service children.
Partly funded by a £1million grant from the US defence department, the project by the King’s Centre for military health Research in London hope to offer a definitive explantion as to how young children are affected by military life.
“We know little about the impact of fathers’ wellbeing on children’s development and it is particularly interesting with the addition of serperation due to deployment” said lead researcher Dr Amy Iversen, of Kings College Institute of Psychiatry.
BAE Systems surface ships Charity launch event
Click the links below to hear the story and interviews
Conservative announcement – scholarships for bereaved Service children
Children and Young People Now
Over the weekend George Osborne and Liam Fox announced that a Conservative government will provide university and further education scholarships for the children of servicemen and women killed while on active duty. Our Director, Monique Bateman, gave her reaction to Children and Young People Now – click here to read the article.
Launch of our ‘The Overlooked Casualties of Conflict’ report
BBC, The Independent, The Guardian and more...
In November 2009 we launched ‘The Overlooked Casualties of Conflict’ report – an in-depth study we commissioned to highlight the various challenges which children can face when they have a parent in the Armed Forces.
Below is a snapshot of some of the media coverage:
NATIONAL PRESS:
- View The Independent article ‘Casualties of war: how forces children bear scars of conflict: A report reveals bullying, mortal fear, and schools that just do not understand’ here
- View The Guardian article ‘Soldiers’ children face ‘ticking timebomb’ of problems - says charity: The emotional, psychological and financial problems faced by children of armed forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are not being adequately addressed - report finds’ here
- View The TES article ‘Report calls for more support for those with parents deployed in war zones’ here
- View The BBC Online article ‘Forces children face ‘time bomb’’ here
- View The BBC Online article ‘Helping the hidden victims of war’ here
TV
- BBC National News: During December we put the BBC in touch with one of the schools we regularly work with – Widewell Primary School in Plymouth – and whose pupils kindly drew many of the pictures featured in our ‘Overlooked Casualties of Conflict’ report. The BBC interviewed nine year-old Ross McNaught, whose Dad is currently in Afghanistan, and profiled the Arc Community project, which is funded by us and Royal Sailor’s Rest (two independent charities). The BBC also interviewed Professor Yule, who contributed to our report. We were delighted to see the problems faced by Service children reach the national news, and welcome the announcement that the Ministry of Defence has now commissioned research into this topic. Watch the report here, which appeared on the 1pm and 6pm national news on 21st December 2009, and read the piece here.
- British Forces Broadcasting Service: The BFBS has produced a 4 minute recording which highlights the educational and emotional problems that the children of Service personnel can face. The BFBS, a broadcasting unit that connects the British Forces community wherever they are in the world through television and radio, spoke to one of the children we’ve helped whose Dad is currently away on operational duty in Afghanistan, as well as his Mum. The broadcast went out to serving families across the seas living as far as Cyprus, Belize and Germany. To visit the page website please click here or click here to download the report.
RADIO:
- Radio 4 Woman’s Hour: In response to the issues raised in our report, Woman’s Hour held a debate about Service children on 27th November. Our Director, Monique Bateman, was invited to speak along with Julie McCarthy of the Army Families Federation. One of the children we have helped was also interviewed to share his point of view. To visit the website click here or click here to download the interview.
- Our Director, Monique Bateman, was interviewed on Radio Solent and The Quay, and the report was also discussed on Heart Plymouth and Gold Plymouth.
Charities need government support in recession
The Times
Monique Bateman, our Director, was in The Times today on page 64 calling for Government support for charities during the recession.
Partnership with Winston’s Wish
ITV Meridian
One of our children spoke live on air about how The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund and Wiston’s Wish have helped her in the past and how their new partnership will enable both charities to help more children in the future!
Cheque Presentation at Portsmouth FC
BBC Radio Solent
Monique Bateman, our Director, spoke live on air about receiving a cheque of £10,000 from The Royal Marines before the Portsmouth vs Blackburn game, Sunday 30th November.
The Royal Marines Challenge
Ocean FM
Monique Bateman, our Director, spoke of her gratitude to The Royal Marines, after they raised £10,000 for the charity by holding a 2,400 Km (1,492 miles) sponsored Row, using two Concept 11 Rowing machines .
The Royal Marines Challenge
BBC Radio Solent
Monique Bateman, our Director, spoke live on air about her gratitude to The Royal Marines, after they raised £10,000 for the charity by holding a 2,400 Km (1,492 miles) sponsored Row, using two Concept 11 Rowing machines .
Remembrance Day
BBC Radio Devon
Monique Bateman, our Director, spoke live on air about the effects of war on families.
Remembrance Day
BBC Radio London
Monique Bateman, our Director, spoke live on air about the effects of war on families.
