Deployments can be especially hard for children. On this page we share sources of deployment support specifically for children to help you through it.
Deployment Support Guide
Together with SCISS, the Families Federations have created a downloadable Deployment Support flyer for Service families and schools.
In it you will find useful links and signposting to key resources and organisations offering support to help children from an Armed Forces background.
Deployment book titles for Service children
Daddy’s Going Away by Christopher MacGregor
Mummy’s Home by Christopher MacGregor
The Grumpit, Harry and the Big Scary Slide by Polly Bateman
Other titles for Service children
Organisations and initiatives providing deployment support for children
Little Troopers
This organisation is a registered charity, founded and run by military wife, Louise Fetigan. Little Troopers main objective is to support children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces, regular or reserve. There is a variety of support available such as separation packs, colouring in cards, residential trips and other events. You can sign up to their newsletter to be kept up to date on what’s available and when.
Reading Force
Reading Force keeps forces families close and connected during deployments and long periods away through sharing stories. It offers support (free books and scrapbooks) to both families, schools or welfare clubs. Their shared reading initiative encourages families to read, talk, and scrapbook about a book, improving communication and enriching relationships with books and each other – one page at a time.
Huggable Heroes
Military mum, Jo has set up Huggable Heroes and simply prints your loved one(s) photos onto fabric, ready to make into the perfect sized cuddly toy. The Heroes fit perfectly under little arms to carry around and they are small enough for older children to tuck into school bags. Prices start at £25 (payment plans are available).
Separation and deployment research
There is a lot of research into the effects of separation and deployment on service children. If you’d like to read some of that research and increase your understanding of the impact separation from a parent can have take a look at the following links:
To really get immersed, if that is your thing, you can search for ‘Service children’ on the Veterans and Families Research Hub and explore related worldwide research
