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
Showing posts with label soldiers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soldiers. Show all posts

18 Dec 2014

We need your support now more than ever

The dust has settled a little after a very exciting week and I really wanted to blog in answer to a question I keep getting asked;

"Afghanistan is over now so all the soldiers are at home aren't they"
 
 
I really wish this was true, I wish with all my heart that this Christmas every family would have their soldier with them by the tree but that just isn't the case.
 
The British Army have many commitments and these are changing constantly in the UK and abroad and this takes soldiers away from the family home, ok so not all these commitments make the headlines and not all of them are combat zones but they do still mean elongated separation of a soldier and child, the added complication of this to a child is that it's over and over again constant separation of varying lengths.
 
Please don't think that because operations aren't in the news they aren't happening because they are, every single day of the year there are Little Troopers with a soldier parent away and it is so important today and every day we are here to support them and ensure they are connected and bonded with the soldier who's away.
 
How can you help?
 
We want to ensure we are ALWAYS here for British Army families and our dream is an Adventure Centre.
 
The Adventure Centre will be a focal point for families to make memories prior to a separation and to reconnect post a separation period. While soldiers are away we would offer weekends so families can meet others in a similar situation. The centre would provide various adventure activities, which would be varied throughout the year.

Being in an Army family is a unique experience, our Little Troopers have a lot to contend with.  We can’t stop the loneliness and fear children feel when their parent is away, but we can make them feel safe, secure and distracted so they don’t reach crisis point.

To achieve our centre we are launching a Fundraising campaign to raise £1million.  This would cover:
  • Refurbishment of a building to accommodate 25 families with common areas and an administration building
  • Catering areas - kitchen, dining
  • Adventure equipment - climbing wall, high ropes course, equipment store
  • An activity hall for indoor activities
  • Resource area for day courses for families
  • A project manager
  • Transport

You can help us by signing up to our Fundraising Trek in April or clicking here to make a donation.
 
Help me make the dream happen for Little Troopers. Louise xxx
 
 
 
 

20 Oct 2013

Me and My Soldier

Me and my Soldier is about celebrating special moments between soldiers and their Little Troopers.

Last year I took a photo of my soldier and our Little Trooper, it was such a tender moment I thought many others must have captured these moments in time too, the Me and my Soldier calendar 2013 was a great success I knew it had to run again for our 2014 calendar!

The charity has grown massively the last year and so has the number of people who know about us which equalled hundreds of entries which was so amazing but also meant we needed more months in the year! The images evoke so many feelings and emotions in everyone, military or civilian and I definitely cried some tears. It was so so hard judging and there was quite a few on the deciding panel but the results will be a totally adorable calendar everyone can have on their kitchen wall.

There was so many images we had some great ones for Christmas cards so this year we have Me and my Soldier cards to spread Christmas cheer!

Below I am sharing a few of the images chosen so you can see just how special they are!

Order your 2014 calendar here: 2014 Me and my Soldier Calendar

Order your Christmas Cards here: Me and my Soldier Christmas Cards


1st Place - Me and my Soldier Calendar
2nd Place - Me and my Soldier Calendar

3rd Place - Me and my Soldier


Christmas Card image

Christmas card image