Scotland’s Armed Forces children’s charity granted funds
12 August 2021
An Edinburgh-based charity which works with children and young people from serving personnel, reservist and veteran families across Scotland will benefit from a £1,000 donation from our East Scotland region.
Our East Scotland region has selected The Royal Caledonian Education Trust to receive the funding through our Building Futures scheme, which supports organisations working with the under-18 age group across the region.
Gary Seath, a spokesperson for the charity, said: “We are only charity within Scotland dedicated to working directly with children and young people, from serving personnel, reservist and veteran families, to co-produce projects and services to better understand and respond effectively to unique challenges experienced with regard to mental health and well-being, education and learning, youth participation and the pursuit of positive futures.
“There are many positive experiences to being in an Armed Forces family who, compared to civilian peers, can grasp a greater opportunities to travel, absorb a range of cultures and meet a greater diversity of people. These experiences equip our young people with a unique sense of determination, resilience and confidence to realise their potential and thrive.
“However, deployment and uncertainty concerning loved ones, living with a family member with life-changing physical or psychological wounds, regular relocations and disrupted friendships can present many unique challenges to Armed Forces young people, which can significantly impact mental health and wellbeing, education and learning as well as so much more."
The donation will support the charity to expand the reach of its education programme to further schools across Scotland to co-produce an enhanced provision of learning resources to assist education professionals working with armed forces young people to respond effectively to meeting their unique education and learning needs.
He added, “Armed Forces young people will, on average, move at least five times during their studies which presents a series of unique challenges to education and learning; such adapting to new school environments, teaching staff and classmates. In addition, regular deployments of loved ones can lead to significant stress and anxiety which can reduce the ability to focus on studies.
“We offer our sincere gratitude to Persimmon’s Building Futures scheme. The funds will support us to continue in our work to amplify a range of unique challenges our young people face when it comes to education and learning, as well as transform attitudes in those who support or make important decisions about their future.”
Since the charity’s foundation in 1815, the organisation has successfully supported thousands of children and young people and has enabled thousands of its beneficiaries to overcome unique challenges, thrive, and to build positive futures.
Building Futures will deliver more than £1 million to good causes across England, Scotland, and Wales. The initiative aims to support community groups working with under-18s across three categories – education & arts, health, and sport.
A total of 128 grants of £1,000 will be awarded across our 32 regional businesses to improve local facilities and the delivery of vital community projects. Three initiatives will go on to win £100,000 each through a national online public vote. The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in November.
In each sector – education & arts, health, and sport – as well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize, whilst a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.
Laura Still, Sales Director of East Scotland, said “We are delighted to be supporting The Royal Caledonian Education Trust and its outstanding work with children and young people within the local community and beyond. We’re accepting entries to the scheme until the 15th August, so we’d urge more people to apply by visiting the website."
