Blog from the founder of the charity Little Troopers. Military wife and mum sharing thoughts and feelings of being a British Armed Forces family.

Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces, regular or reserve. We provide fundamental resources, initiatives and events to ease and aid repeated separation periods aiming to keep parent and child connected and bonded even when miles apart

18 Mar 2015

Why aren't they important enough?

I often only blog when I feel I have a swell of emotion for something, passionate posts always seem so much easier to write and this one has been brewing for a while!

Why is it that children of servicemen or women who aren't in 'crisis' but face unique challenges every day aren't seen as a worthy cause to support? Why aren't Little Troopers important enough?

I created the charity due to my own daughter really struggling with what comes with being the child of a soldier and not being able to find support for her, over the last four years is has become apparent that many other children need support too.
These children are the majority with over 100,000 Little Troopers and yes many of them are not in 'crisis' but they DO still need support to deal with separation from a soldier parent, they DO need to feel like they belong to something due to constant moving and they DO deserve recognition.

I have applied to every forces charity, I have applied numerous times for LIBOR funding, I have applied over and over again for grants, I even met the Prime Minister and wrote to him and the Defence Secretary (without response) but NO ONE sees this cause as one they want to help. We have hardly any pennies in the bank to sustain and grow our support for so many who rely on it yet I know it is needed so volunteer all the spare time I have to continue, but I consistently ask myself why don't various parties see our Little Troopers as important enough?

I write this post today as a further £75m is pledged from LIBOR fines to military charities, this is great news and some really deserving causes in the list...not one that will solely benefit military children and their unique challenges read about todays LIBOR announcement in total a reported £450m LIBOR funds has gone to military charities read more here...every tranche we have applied and every time turned down but why? nothing in the list that is available suggests it is going to an initiative to support specifically the needs of 174,000 service children with no 'crisis' no additional problems just the factor that they are a child of a person who has chosen a unique career demanding total commitment that can affect their everyday life.

It makes me so sad.

I wont give up on these children or My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures, I want this support to be tri service  to support Army, Navy & RAF families and I know as a community we can make it happen and prove this support is important, it is making a difference and it is most definitely a cause worth supporting.

Together we are Stronger.

Louise xxx



11 Mar 2015

The emotional fuel tank

In late February I had a great day filming a short piece about the charity and how it came about, Julie Hesmondhalgh came to the base where I live and learnt a little about what being a military family meant and how it affects Little Troopers.

On Tuesday 10th March I went onto ITV This Morning, the film was played out, then I went on the sofa with Philip Schofield and Amanda Holden to chat about my experiences.

At the This Morning studio
Personally I have had periods over the last 15 years where I haven't coped great with being married to a soldier and I spoke on the programme about my 'emotional fuel tank' which I really believe in, we as humans have limits and sometimes I feel I have reached mine.
The last tour of Afghanistan my husband went on was 7 and a bit months directly followed by 18 months married unaccompanied definitely emptied my tank! I felt drained, 18 months on from that period I have refuelled to a certain extent. I feel emotionally ready to face to word again and for us as a family to return to the regiment this summer.

A lady saw me on This Morning and emailed in, I cant lie I did cry a tear....emails like this make all the hard work worthwhile, she said;

"Just wanted to say thank you for appearing on This Morning today. I have a two children and my partner is away from home most of the time. I don't know any other military families and never sure if what I'm going through is right. You've made me feel normal again I guess you could say. No one else in my family understands why I feel like I need him here and that I should be used to it by now. But your appearance and what you said was spot on"

We are all in this together and if sharing how I feel gives others strength then all the hours volunteering to create and sustain the charity are valuable. It isn't easy and there are unique challenges being an Army family; for soldiers, spouses and Little Troopers.

Together we are Stronger

Here is a link to the This Morning piece which I hope raises awareness of how Little Troopers think, feel and how vital our support is to them; Watch This Morning clip here
 
I was also given a surprise live on the show which was amazing and deserves another blogpost!

As always I TRULY am so thankful for all the support and hope in 2015 with the media coverage recently people see this charity as a worthy cause and enable it to grow and continue.

Louise xxxxx 

3 Mar 2015

Me...Mum of the Year?!

On Sunday 1st March 2015 I stood on a stage at The Savoy in London and accepted an award for Tesco Supportive Mum of the Year 2015.



I was in a room of people celebrating women who have achieved great things, causes they are truly passionate about and it was a great place for me to be reiterating that children of soldiers don't always have it easy and there must be a support community for them.

I felt so honored to have people listen to the story of how My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures came  about and to see my Little Trooper, Madison on a big screen telling everyone how it has helped her made everything worth it.

"Children are so resilient though"

So many say this to me, they are little people with feelings and emotions and sometimes we need to be their holding hand and help them process those feelings when they are scared, frightened, worried or just missing their soldier and if I can be that holding hand and can ease that separation period with My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures then we are achieving what I want.

A visit to 10 Downing Street the day after the awards was also a fantastic opportunity, we met Nicky Morgan Secretary of State for Education. I wanted to speak with her about the Service pupil premium that schools receive as I feel passionately that schools need guidance on that...will keep you posted!



Tesco Mum of the Year has been amazing, new friends met and so many memories made but as always this isn't about me it is about raising awareness of the challenges British Army families face on a daily basis and highlighting why this support is needed.

Many tears were shed on Sunday at the awards ceremony and so many mummy's in one place all proving that women with a passion can achieve anything.

Thanks Tesco, its been a blast!

Louise xxx

p.s Blue was a bit of a highlight too!!