In its 15th year, Scotty’s has published its 2025 Impact Report, showcasing a year of significant growth, strengthened specialist support and growing national influence for bereaved military children and young people.
The report reflects how Scotty’s has continued to evolve its support in response to what bereaved military families need most, combining opportunities for connection, long-term mental health and wellbeing support, development opportunities, help navigating entitlements and growing influence on the systems that shape children’s lives.
Read the Impact Report HERE.
In 2025, Scotty’s supported 796 bereaved military children and young people. Scotty’s support is delivered through three programmes – SMILES, SUPPORT and STRIDES – all demonstrating high impact.
The SMILES Programme – helping people create social connections
SMILES focuses on reducing isolation and helping bereaved military families feel part of a community that understands.
2025 SMILES highlights include:
- 344 children and young people attended Scotty’s events – meeting others who understand their experiences
- 98% of event attendees reported a stronger sense of belonging or connection
- 349 children and parents took part in fully funded Scotty Breaks, providing time to reconnect as a family
- 99% of families said Scotty Breaks improved their connection or communication
- 3,085 care packages were sent to ensure bereaved military young people never felt forgotten
The SUPPORT Programme – helping improve mental health and wellbeing
SUPPORT provides specialist help when grief feels overwhelming or begins to affect daily life.
2025 SUPPORT highlights include:
- The introduction of accredited bereavement counselling for young people with more complex emotional or mental health needs, complementing Scotty’s existing 1:1 bereavement support, which offers a safe space to talk and be heard
- The introduction of pre-bereavement support, recognising the importance of being there for families earlier
- 70 children and young people receiving 1:1 bereavement support or counselling
- 78% of children and young people receiving SUPPORT reported improvements in at least three wellbeing areas
- 90% of parents and carers reported improved communication, belonging or connection for their child
- Advocacy support for seven families navigating complex issues such as pensions, medals and other death administration
The STRIDES Programme – helping with development opportunities
STRIDES supports bereaved military children and young people to thrive in education, while challenging systems that can unintentionally cause harm.
2025 STRIDES highlights include:
- £73,149 distributed through 329 grants to remove financial barriers to education, training and development
- 30 families supported through education-related advocacy
- The Behind the Uniform campaign, led by young people with lived experience, influencing exam boards responsible for over 2 million exams each year
- New, free teacher training resources launched with Anglia Ruskin University to help educators better support bereaved pupils in classrooms
Scotty’s founder Nikki Scott said:
“Over the past 15 years, we’ve seen first-hand the difference it makes when children and young people feel understood and connected to others who understand their experiences, and I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built. Everything we do at Scotty’s is shaped by listening to our families and learning from their experiences. This impact report highlights the difference the right support and a strong community can make and we’re committed to building on that so that no one affected by military-connected bereavement feels alone.”
Looking ahead, the Impact Report outlines Scotty’s plans to build on 15 years of learning by extending its support to anyone impacted by a military-connected bereavement, while keeping children and young people firmly at the centre of its work.
The full Scotty’s 2025 Impact Report can be read HERE.
