Leading children’s charities join forces

The partnership, which will see two of the country’s leading children’s charities join forces, aims to supplement Scotty’s existing programme of support for children of the fallen with a specialist bereavement programme for British Forces families provided by Winston’s Wish and funded by Help for Heroes.

Every family that is currently a member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers will have access to this comprehensive and professional package of therapeutic support, alongside Scotty’s unparalleled service, which includes exclusive access to four holiday homes across the UK, cards, birthday presents, Christmas gifts, tickets, gift vouchers and help towards clubs and activities and holiday breaks.

The complementary partnership brings together two of the country’s leading children’s charities with the mutual goal of helping bereaved children of Forces families to cope with their grief and rebuild their future in a positive way.

Stuart Robinson, CEO of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Winston’s Wish today and are delighted that each of our members and their families can now have access to a comprehensive bereavement programme to support them through what is undeniably a devastating and painful experience of losing a parent whilst serving in the Armed Forces.

Winston’s Wish offers a wonderful service that perfectly complements the work we already do as a charity. When we started Scotty’s we set out with the aim of helping to put a smile back on the children’s faces, but we’ve realised that the charity does so much more than that.

“It provides a support network for the whole family and in addition to all the fun activities we have added educational grant schemes and access to emotional support such as that provided through our partnership with Winston’s Wish”.

Fiona Talwar-Lomberg, Chief Executive of Winston’s Wish, added her thoughts to the partnership news:“We are delighted to be partnering with Scotty’s Little Soldiers who are doing such great work. Scotty’s recognised that our specialist military support programme, funded by Help for Heroes, would be perfectly complementary and a practical addition to the services they currently offer.

The partnership will enable us to reach and support even more bereaved children and young people from military families”.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers invites everyone who is passionate about their cause and wants to support their work to get in touch via their website at www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk, by calling them on 01553 763 000 or following their Twitter page @CorporalScottys.

Each year, Winston’s Wish supports over 30,000 bereaved children and young people through an array of dedicated services. These in-depth support programmes include support following death as a result of accident, illness, murder, manslaughter, suicide and also through military service.

For more information on Winston’s Wish, visit www.winstonswish.org.uk. The Winston’s Wish Helpline, staffed by qualified clinical practitioners, provides guidance and information for anyone supporting a bereaved child - 08452 03 04 05, 9am-5pm Monday – Friday and 7pm-9.30pm on Wednesday.

Report contributed by Winston’s Wish. Picture by www.paultibbsphotography.com