New support kit to help naval families

A CHARITY at work in Helensburgh and Lomond is launching a new toolkit to help children of armed forces personnel.

Naval Children’s Charity has created the psychological toolkit called “Doing Distance” to help work through challenges such as separation and mobility.

The charity said it has been designed to support both parents of military children, as well as adults from their school or local community.

It was put together with help from “Bear Us In Mind”, a group with 30 years of experience working with families around separation and loss.

Allison Donnelly joined as caseworker based in Churchill, Helensburgh, last year and expanded the charity’s reach by 500 miles to offer support for naval families in and around HMNB Clyde.

A naval wife herself, the charity said she understands first hand the frustrations and worries families face when loved ones are deployed.

The organisation said: “Life in a ‘tin can’, as its often referred to, really does come with its difficulties.

“It can be difficult for all involved to adapt to long sea deployments, added with the unknown of where they are and when they will be home, often dates can change at the very last minute and extend without notice.

“Seas Patrols vary in length and type depending on the class of Submarine, with some deploying for nearly a year.

“Understandably, families are often left unsure when they will next see their husband/ wife/partner/son/daughter, left behind having to navigate everyday life.

“It’s important to ensure that families left behind are supported and know who to turn to. The Naval Children’s Charity understand that emergencies can occur and are on hand to assist families with child related grants, we also have resources aimed at children to make deployments and time apart more bearable.

“Based in the Charity Support Hub in Churchill, Allison has been busy engaging with families offering support, guidance, and grant opportunities.”

“Doing Distance” is designed to help children and their supporting adults “navigate the highs and lows of service life”.

It will help them process the challenges and hold on to the special memories, said the charity.

Clare Scherer MBE, from the Naval Children’s Charity, said: “We could not be more grateful to Julie Stokes and the Bear Us In Mind team for their generosity in allowing us to adapt and use this amazing toolkit. “We really think it will bring help and support to lots of our families as they deal with some of the challenges that come with life as a service family.”

Visit https://www.navalchildrenscharity.org. uk/doing-distance/ to view the free resources.