When a military parent dies, life drastically changes for the whole family – Scotty Breaks offer grieving families time away to reconnect, talk and begin to rebuild together.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers provides vital support to bereaved military families through its SMILES Programme, which includes Scotty Breaks. While these breaks are designed to support bereaved young people, the benefits extend to the whole family.
In 2024, 236 bereaved children and young people went on a Scotty Break. So far in 2025, 141 breaks have already been booked, supporting 220 children and young people and 361people including parents and carers.
Scotty’s owns six holiday homes at Haven sites across the UK, available to families from March to November. These self-catering breaks offer families the chance to escape the pressures of daily life and spend meaningful time together. Accommodation is free of charge, with discounts on food and activities, and travel support available. Families can bring close relatives or friends, giving their support network a chance to join them.
Importantly, these breaks offer more than rest – they provide families with the space to reconnect. After the death of a parent, life at home can become fragmented. With tension at home, communication can suffer. Scotty Breaks create space for families to talk, heal and grow closer again.
Research shows that strong family communication following a bereavement is one of the most important factors in a child’s long-term wellbeing. Scotty Breaks intentionally support this – and the feedback from 2024 speaks volumes. 78% of families said they felt more connected as a family after their break. 89% felt they had quality time together, and 95% said they built new family memories. The number of families describing themselves as being in a “bad place” nearly halved, with it dropping from 13% to 7.4% after the break.
One parent said:
“Having the opportunity to have a break away through Scotty’s is amazing for us as a family. It gives us a chance to switch off, connect and get some quality time together.”
Another shared:
“Our family is connected, full of happiness and joy on these breaks. My sons were able to talk openly about their dad – something they never do at home. It gave them a connection to him and to each other in a safe place.”
To make sure families who most need support can access it, Scotty’s operates a staggered booking system. Priority goes to those who are newly bereaved, in crisis, or who haven’t had a break before. The demand is significant: over 50% of Scotty families said they would not be able to take a holiday without this support.
Forces Support have partnered with Scotty’s since 2021 and their significant contributions towards the costs of Scotty Breaks have helped fund hundreds of breaks and the purchase of a brand-new Scotty Lodge.
Nikki Scott, who founded Scotty’s after the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, in Afghanistan in 2009, said:
“For some families, a Scotty Break is the first time they’ve laughed together in months. The first time they’ve sat down and talked about their loved one who died. These moments don’t fix everything, but they can bring comfort, hope and a sense of togetherness that’s been missing. We’re incredibly grateful to Forces Support for helping us make that possible.”
Scotty Breaks are part of Scotty’s SMILES Programme, which also includes group events, gifts and fun activities to help bereaved military children and young people feel connected to others who understand.
The charity also provides emotional wellbeing support through its SUPPORT Programme, and educational and personal development support through its STRIDES Programme. So far this year, Scotty’s has supported over 760 bereaved military children and young people, with their wider families also benefitting from the support.
Scotty’s is researching the need for bereavement support within the wider military community and exploring future opportunities to expand its services.
To find out more, visit: www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk
