Scotty’s Little Soldiers brought bereaved military children and young people together for a lively virtual party that sparked connection, confidence and a real sense of community – with an extra burst of energy from inspirational special guest Zack George, best known as Steel from the TV show Gladiators.
Scotty’s holds a number of in-person events for its members – all who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces – but online events like this are also an important part of Scotty’s calendar. They remove barriers such as long travel, busy venues or worries about stepping into a large group, while still giving families the chance to join in, have fun and feel part of something special.
Hosted by professional events planners Sharky and George, the party – held on the evening of 17th November – included cushion-jumping, toilet-roll stacking, paper-aeroplane challenges, and lots of waving of the famous foam Gladiators fingers that Scotty’s sent to members ahead of the event. Zack aka Steel also had one, which added to the fun. Members of Scotty’s of all ages up to 25 joined in, with families encouraged to get involved too.
Feedback from families after the party showed just how much the evening meant to them. 95.7% said it helped them feel more connected to the Scotty community, and the session was rated 4.83/5 (96.5%) for satisfaction, reflecting a highly positive experience for all those who took part. Everyone who shared feedback said the event made them smile. There was also a brilliant mix of first-time attendees and returning members, with families from the Army, Navy and RAF all taking part.
During the virtual party, members of Scotty’s were invited to put their own questions to the Gladiators star, and he gave honest, insightful and uplifting answers. When one young person asked what advice he would give to someone going through a difficult time, Zack said:
“I’ve had countless amounts of fails. It took me eight years of failing before I became the UK’s fittest man. I would always say, surround yourself with positive people and set yourself goals. Just know failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.”
When another young person asked Zack why he wanted to meet members of Scotty’s, he answered:
“The best thing about being a gladiator is to motivate and inspire as many people as possible – That’s exactly what I want to do. Hopefully I’ve brought a smile to your face.”
And when asked the best thing about being a Gladiator, he replied:
“Showing people that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.”
He then encouraged everyone:
“Believe in yourself and never let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve what you want to achieve.”
Before signing off, Zack led the group in the “Steel Pose”, telling them to step into their confidence. He reminded members:
“Every one of you has gladiator qualities inside of you… Keep being awesome.”
After the event, Scotty families shared what the evening meant to them:
“So thrilled to feel part of something where there is regular support rather than ad hoc support. It is so wonderful knowing this community is there offering wonderful things for the children with only small gaps in between. Feel very blessed to have found Scotty’s.”
“I haven’t seen my daughter smile so much recently with-it being remembrance, so this was absolutely amazing to see her get so involved and a huge smile on her face.”
“I love all the Scotty’s events. I love spending time with other Scotty Members and I had so much fun. Thank you, Scotty’s. Thank you, Steel.”
“It’s great to still be connected from wherever we are.”
Scotty’s is a national charity that supports children and young people, aged 0 to 25, who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Support is available whether their parent died while serving or as a veteran, and whatever the cause – including through illness, accident, suicide or while on active duty.
Events like this are part of Scotty’s SMILES Programme, which offers fun activities, group events, gifts and respite breaks to bring joy and connection. Support is also delivered through the SUPPORT Programme, providing emotional and mental health support, and the STRIDES Programme, which helps with education and personal development.
Nikki Scott, founder of Scotty’s, said:
“This event was all about connection. Bereaved military children and young people can often feel alone in their experiences, and evenings like this show them they’re part of a strong, supportive community that understands and celebrates them. Seeing so many smiles and hearing how much more connected our members felt afterwards is what these events are all about. We’re so grateful to Zack aka Steel for bringing such energy and positivity to the evening.”
The SMILES Programme receives funding from the Veterans’ Foundation and this event was also supported by funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Thrive Together programme.
