FAMILY Nikki with children Brooke and Kai
“We’ve started making happy memories through Scotty’s Little Soldiers,” said Amy, 28. “Jess’ face lights up when she sees the Scotty’s sticker on a letter or parcel in the post for her. It’s also knowing that there are other children who know exactly how she’s feeling.”
The children provide support for one another and most importantly, have fun. One highlight was a fundraising rugby match held last year attended by dozens of Scotty’s members. “We love Scotty’s and it’s not just Jess, it’s helped me a lot as well because I’ve met a lot of friends who are also widows and they really understand,” said Amy.
The three holiday lodges purchased by Scotty’s Little Soldiers provide free weekend breaks for all members and their families. The holiday homes are stocked with fresh produce and games to provide a real getaway and the chance to enjoy time together as a family.
Angela Nicholls, 38, from Milton Keynes, says the time she has spent at the lodges
www.raf-ff.org.uk
with her two children Cameron and Erin (nine and seven) has proved invaluable. She found Scotty’s on Facebook after she lost her husband in Afghanistan in 2006 when their daughter was still a baby.
Their next family holiday will be at one of the lodges before the end of the school summer holidays and Angela says the children find the trips so exciting they’re no longer bothered about holidays abroad.
“With Scotty’s we can go away and not worry about things, that’s exactly what the lodges do. There’s everything there, you don’t feel under pressure to have to do anything, it’s more of a relaxing holiday,” she said.
Kate Darbyshire, 33, lost husband Steven, during a patrol in Afghanistan in 2010. The hardest thing about adjusting to life without him she says has been planning things to do at weekends for their children Ryan, nine and Callum, seven.
That’s where she says Scotty’s has proved to be really helpful, with get-togethers at Christmas and sports matches.
“The children have had a lot of upset and grief in their young lives and if you can give them happy experiences it means when you look back they remember happy things,” said Kate. “Plus you get to meet other families and it’s comforting to know that it’s not only you going through it.”
Funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers are raised through events, donations, merchandise and corporate sponsorship. Families such as Nickie and Jack Jones, who lost Jack’s dad John in Iraq nine years ago, hope they can continue to thrive and lighten the load of grief.
“Scotty’s is great. Jack used to think anything to do with his Dad would be upsetting but now he realises anything to do with Scotty’s is fun. That’s what Scotty’s does brilliantly, it reminds the children they can have a good time, have fun, and smile.”
Envoy Summer 2014 37
Courtesy of Easter Daily Press/Matthew Usher
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