For a catch-all, you can’t go wrong by looking at your relevant Families Federation page:
Military Families
If you are a child with military parents or a serving or ex-serving parent, you are not alone.
There are approximately 100,000 children with a military parent in the UK.
Being part of the military family comes with a particular lifestyle. There are many benefits, including pride, a sense of community and purpose and exciting opportunities abroad, and many unique challenges. These may include:
|
For Children |
For Parents |
| Long periods of time away from a parent with limited contact | Registering at a new GP practice without proof of address |
| Worrying about the safety of a parent who has been deployed | Understanding the differences in NHS services across the country |
| Often moving house and changing schools | Fear around interruption to NHS referral waiting times |
| Moving away from and having to make new friends | Supporting your children if someone in the family has a physical or mental illness |
| Caring for other siblings or family members | Supporting your children through separation and deployment |
| Coping with uncertainty | |
| Experiencing or adjusting to traumatic illness, injury or bereavement |
The Armed Forces Covenant was published in 2012 to highlight and address these and other challenges to ensure that the Armed Forces Community is not disadvantaged due to its military experience.
By recognising and understanding these challenges, and pointing military families towards the many resources available, “we can ensure that [children of military families] are not let down by the system and can instead be supported to turn those experiences into something positive, and grow into adaptable and resilient adults” [Louise Fetigan, founder of ‘Little Troopers’].
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Website explaining the Armed Forces Covenant, what it does and doesn't cover and what to expect when managing healthcare, education, housing etc.
Armed Forces Network for Sussex, Kent & Medway
Advocates for the Armed Forces Community in Sussex, Kent and Medway to ensure that the Armed Forces Covenant is upheld in the local area. Includes explanation of the Armed Forces Covenant and links to resources for Surrey and Hampshire.
Part of the Armed Forces Network. Provides direct support if you feel that you or your child's healthcare is being disadvantaged due to being a military family, for example with transfer of treatment and NHS waiting times.
Armed Forces Covenant Duty Statutory Guidance
Government publication outlining examples of how the Armed Forces Covenant has been upheld in different public bodies.
Healthcare for the Armed Forces Community NHS page
General advice and pointers to the relevant organisations that can help with waiting lists, how to register with a GP and advice for veterans and Commonweath soldiers. Includes the NHS England Armed Forces Team email address.
A branch of the Armed Forces Community. Includes contact details for advice on Veteran Friendly GPs, direct support when managing transfers of care to different NHS trusts or dental services, maintaining continuity of care and maintaining your place on an NHS waiting list.
Royal College of GP's Veteran's Health Hub
Includes a download of the current accredited veteran friendly General Practices.
Families Federations Health Pages
Provide guidance on how to manage physical, mental, dental, orthodontic and additional health needs, links to support resources and contact details for their relevant support teams.
Separated Service
The Experience of Parental Absence in Royal Navy and Royal Marines Families
A document written by Naval and Royal Marines Parents that explores 'The Emotional Cycle of Deployment' and advises on how to guide your children through separated service.
Making Sense of the Emotional Cycle of Deployment
A pull-out summary of the above which can be shared with carers and schools.
Includes activities to complete with children to help unpack difficult feelings, 'Deployment Club' and advice clips for parents and professionals.
Naval Service Parents’ Support Network. Provides deployment packs and facilitates story time recordings for the child to listen to while you are away.
Deployed Family Healthcare
Provides help with health and wellbeing when the whole family is deployed overseas:
Family hub - includes health and wellbeing information and guidance
eRedbook - electronic version of 'The Red Book' (Personal Child Health Record)
Young people - resources for young people overseas including CAMHS, community children's nurse etc.
Websites
Frimley Healthier Together: Mental Health page pointing towards local resources.
Kooth: provides free mental health support for those aged 11 - 24 who are deployed with their family abroad.
Apps
Togetherall: Anonymous Online Mental Health Support Community tailored to the individual. Has a military engagement lead and a military specific group. Free to UK Armed Forces, Veterans and Family Members (16+).
BlueIce: Self-harm prevention tool, designed for young people. Designed to be used alongside care from mental health support worker. Available on Google Play/App Store (iPhone).
CalmHarm: Self-harm prevention tool for >13-year-olds. Free in the UK.
Tellmi: 100% moderated app (by psychologists) for teenagers to open up in a safe way. Provides peer support, expert help, inbuilt educational and creative resources as well as in app links to UK charities and helplines.
Thrive: App to facilitate thriving at work by providing confidential therapy service for employees.
Documents
Hampshire Child and Adolescent Service Wellbeing Workbook: for teenagers to use themselves to help combat low mood/anxiety, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Defence Medical Welfare Service
Provides support to the family and serving member when a serving member has fallen unwell.
The Nexus Project for Young Carers
Aims to improve the support, resources and access to services for young carers in armed forces families.
NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics)
For help when a parent suffers with alcoholism.
Family, friends and carers page for help when a parent has mental health difficulties.
For free family/relationship counselling.
FANDF: Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum
Join as a member for resources and to ensure your voice is heard.
FANDF Handbook for Service Families
Families Federation Additional Needs pages:
Scotty's Little Soldiers: Support for bereaved children.
Winston’s Wish: Support for bereaved families.
The Compassionate Friends: Support for bereaved parents.
Flowers from Afar: Provision of flowers on a grave of those buried overseas. Provided by the Defence Medical Welfare Service.
Beyond The Wire: Support for families bereaved of their serving person, and the subsequent departure from armed forces life.
Dandelion Military Families: Monthly online Bereavement Peer Support group for those who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss.
Highlights Army policy and Welfare support on various family related topics, including a link to the Army Parent's Network, a Facebook group where specific questions on policy can be posted and answered online.
A clear and helpful handbook that explains all the military acronyms, available resources within the Army Welfare support network and where to get relevant information.
Highlights guidance available for family related topics including Welfare Support.
Includes a link to join The Royal Navy Forum for 24/7 advice from The Royal Navy Family and People Support team (and their telephone number) and a link to find your local support office.
A free app with rapid access to an interpreter in many languages. If you do not want to get the app, most NHS services have a subscription to this and you can request an interpreter for your consultation if required.
Armed Forces Network – Ghurka and Nepalese Community
Links to local and national support networks for the Ghurka and Nepalese community.
For information in Nepalese on the NHS and various medical conditions, including child vaccinations and child health.
A podcast for military teenagers
Family Time by Little Troopers
A podcast for military parents
Podcasts for specific ages
Online support group and reading club, particularly aiming to provide support around the peri-natal period and reduce loneliness for military parents.
