Forces families in Helensburgh and Lomond who are balancing military life with caring responsibilities will have access to dedicated support through a new project from Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO.
The organisation has been awarded £28,700 by Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity to deliver its Forces Family Resilience project – a preventative programme designed to support serving and ex-serving Forces families who are also caring for a loved one.
Caring can bring additional pressures to family life, and for Forces families these can be compounded by periods of separation, changes in family circumstances, and reintegration following deployment and social isolation. The project aims to provide early, accessible support before challenges reach crisis point.
Support for the whole family
Forces Family Resilience will take a whole-family approach, supporting young carers aged 5–17, young adult carers aged 18–24, adult carers and parent carers, as well as their wider families.
Support will be tailored to individual circumstances and can include one-to-one emotional and practical support, peer support groups, family-focused activities and breaks, and access to information, advice and signposting.
The project will also include support for reservist and cadet families, helping to reach people who may not always access mainstream carer services.
A key focus will be helping families navigate periods of change, including deployment and return to family life, changes following injury or ill health, and the transition from serving to veteran status.
A representative from Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO said:
“Forces families who are also caring for a loved one can face a unique combination of pressures, and it is important that they have somewhere to turn before those pressures become overwhelming. This project gives families access to practical and emotional support, while creating opportunities to connect with others who understand their experiences. By working with the whole family, we can help strengthen relationships, reduce isolation and build resilience for the future.”
Connecting families with the right support
Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO will build on its existing partnerships with organisations including HMS Faslane, Royal Navy Royal Marines Welfare, Forces Children Scotland, Reading Force, Vector 24 and the Naval Children’s Charity.
The project will also work alongside other specialist support, including SSAFA’s Peer Support Worker, Forces Children Scotland’s Participation Officer and the Naval Children’s Charity Outreach Officer.
This partnership approach means families can be connected with the right support without having to navigate services alone or repeatedly explain their circumstances.
Mandy Harding, Head of Commissioned Grants at Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, said:
“Families can face additional pressures when caring responsibilities sit alongside the demands of Forces life. Forces Family Resilience provides an opportunity to reach families early, offer support that reflects their individual circumstances and strengthen the connections around them. We’re pleased to support Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO as they bring together their specialist knowledge of carers with established Forces partnerships to help families feel supported and connected.”
Co-production will also form an important part of the project, with carers and family members involved in shaping activities, informing delivery and reviewing the impact of the support.
Ultimately, Forces Family Resilience aims to help families access support earlier, improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and strengthen family relationships during periods of change and transition.
For Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO, the project builds on its existing whole-family approach to supporting unpaid carers across the community, while creating dedicated pathways for Forces families with caring responsibilities.
Need support? Reach out to Helensburgh and Lomond Carers here: Email: hello@hlcc.org.uk or call: 01436 673444 / 670555
