Members of Scotty’s Little Soldiers travelled to Canada to share pioneering research on the experiences of bereaved military children at a major international conference on military and veteran health.
Four young adults from Scotty’s Council – Angel, Molly, Joshua and Baxter – joined founder Nikki Scott at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Forum 2025 in Ottawa. Each has lost a parent who served in the Armed Forces, and all took part in panel discussions to highlight the needs and perspectives of bereaved military children and young people.
The delegation supported the charity’s ongoing collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University’s Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research. Researcher Dr Faye Acton presented findings from their joint project, The Impact of Bereavement Support for Military Children, which examines how tailored support influences identity, belonging and resilience.
Research placing lived experience at the centre
The co-produced study stresses the importance of youth voice and culturally informed support in shaping services for bereaved military families. Early analysis indicates that involvement in Scotty’s can strengthen young people’s sense of community, peer relationships and emotional resilience. The work also argues that specialist charities offer forms of support that mainstream services are not always equipped to deliver.
Scotty’s Council, which guides the charity’s work, played a central role in shaping the research and in representing its findings to academics, policymakers and practitioners at the Forum.
Angel, one of the council members, said it was “moving to see research based on Scotty’s members presented internationally” and valued the chance to connect with others involved in military family research.
Strengthening evidence for specialist support
The research partnership aims to build a stronger evidence base for the role of tailored bereavement support and to inform future policy and funding. Dr Acton said presenting to one of the world’s leading conferences in the field was “a privilege” and praised the young people for their contribution.
Nikki Scott said seeing the council members speak with confidence and honesty was a proud moment for the charity, which marks its 15th anniversary this year. Scotty’s plans to set out a new long-term vision in the New Year as it explores how its expertise could support bereaved military adults as well as children.
The project forms part of Scotty’s STRIDES Programme, which supports the education and development of bereaved military young people, and is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund.
