Children who have parents serving in the British Armed Forces can experience unique challenges as they grow up in the military community. Being separated from a parent who is deployed overseas and moving home and school multiple times are just some of the things that children can find unsettling and may impact on their wellbeing.
While many military children thrive despite these constant changes and pressures, others may find they would benefit from face-to-face support with a qualified clinician.
The Owl Centre is delighted that the charity Little Troopers has chosen us to be the delivery partner for its new tri-service Therapy Programme. Little Troopers has been supporting the children of our Armed Forces for over a decade now and this new programme, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, will benefit 600 children over two years.
Working with Little Troopers, we have created an in-depth, bespoke early intervention programme that provides military-specific support exploring those unique challenges and pressures that can arise in the forces community. Our team of qualified clinicians across England will be helping to deliver three aspects of the programme:
- One-to-one therapy for school age-children, where individual children receive six one-hour sessions at home or in a safe local space.
- Face-to-face group sessions for secondary school children, delivered in the local community.
- An on-demand parent session that will be available to all military parents later this year to help them better support their children at home.
Little Troopers hopes to extend the reach and duration of the programme following the initial two years. To find out more or to refer a child to the programme you can visit www.littletroopers.net/little-troopers-therapy-programme
