Scotty’s Little Soldiers has seen a powerful impact from its 2025 events Programme, with festivals, regional gatherings, special military experiences and online activities all helping bereaved military families to feel more connected, confident and part of a supportive community.
In 2025, Scotty’s delivered a Summer and Winter Festival, three Scotty’s on Tour events, a virtual party featuring inspirational special guest Zack George, best known as Steel from the TV show Gladiators, a special partnership event at the Tower of London, Remembrance Weekend in London and a reflective gathering at the National Memorial Arboretum. The calendar was shaped directly by nearly 200 families in a 2024 year-end survey, ensuring a varied mix of events to suit different needs, with all activities open to the wider family – including grandparents, siblings and other close relatives.
These events form a core part of Scotty’s SMILES Programme, which focuses on fun, engagement and connection and sits alongside the SUPPORT and STRIDES Programmes as part of the charity’s year-round support for bereaved military families. So far this year, Scotty’s has supported over 780 children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Throughout 2025, families reported exceptionally high satisfaction, strong peer connection and a lasting sense of belonging across all event types. Across the entire programme, 98% of attendees rated their event 4 stars or above, with 77% giving a full 5 stars, and 98% saying the event helped strengthen their sense of connection or belonging. Events consistently created opportunities to meet others with shared experiences, with 96% of attendees meeting new families and over a third saying they would certainly meet up again afterwards, while almost two-thirds hoped to – a powerful indicator of enduring impact.
The mix of events provided different but equally meaningful outcomes. Many long-standing members returned to the Summer Festival and Winter Festival to reconnect with friends they’ve made over years of Scotty’s community-building, while the introduction of smaller regional Scotty’s on Tour events made attending easier for newer families. This resulted in 39% of regional event attendees joining a Scotty event for the very first time, while festivals continued to be a familiar and comforting space for families keen to reunite and deepen existing friendships. Confidence-building was a strong theme across the programme, with 96% of Scotty’s on Tour attendees and 88% of Summer Festival attendees saying their event helped them feel more confident to make new friends in their everyday lives.
Events with strong military connections had a particularly profound effect. 94% of Tower of London attendees and 97% of Remembrance Weekend attendees said these special moments helped them feel more connected to the military and their loved one’s service. Many families said attending together helped them reflect with pride while still enjoying time with others who understand their experiences.
The virtual party – complete with games, shared activities and a celebrity guest – removed barriers such as distance, crowded venues or worries about stepping into a large group, yet still gave families the chance to connect, have fun and feel part of something special. One parent said afterwards:
“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.”
After Scotty’s Summer Festival, a parent said:
“Scotty’s events have this wonderful ability to bring people together. Those first moments of uncertainty and doubt are quickly washed away by the community that you find. Our individual families with a heartbreak that not everyone understands come together and find reasons to smile and laugh and celebrate together and you find yourself a part of a bigger family with new friends and new memories.”
Following a Scotty’s On Tour event, a parent reflected:
“I always enjoy having a place to go where everyone knows why we are there – it’s not taboo, and fun for the children whilst still acknowledging their loss.”
Commenting on the year, Scotty’s Founder and Head of the SMILES Programme, Nikki Scott, said:
“Every Scotty’s event is built around connection – creating moments where bereaved military children, young people and their families can feel understood, less alone and part of a community that truly gets it. This year’s mix of festivals, local gatherings, an online event and special military experiences has shown just how powerful that can be. These events not only help bereaved children and young people make friends and build confidence, but can also help families feel more able to reach out for additional support if they need it.”
Events like these couldn’t happen without generous funding. Scotty’s would like to thank Veterans ‘Foundation, BAE Systems, Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Thrive Together Programme, Eric Wright Charitable Foundation, the Charles S French Charitable Trust, the Invictus Games Foundation, Lest We Forget, Rail Delivery Group, Poppy Cabs, Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital.
