Scotty’s – the military bereavement charity – has appointed Faiqa Amreen as its new Head of Impact and Research, strengthening its commitment to using research, data and the voices of the bereaved military community to ensure its support continues to meet the needs of those it serves.
Faiqa joins Scotty’s at an important point in the charity’s development as it expands its support beyond children and young people to anyone affected by military-connected bereavement.
In her new role, Faiqa will lead Scotty’s approach to impact and research, helping the charity to understand the difference its support makes, identify where there are gaps, and ensure learning and evidence continue to shape the development of its services. She will work across the organisation to strengthen how Scotty’s collects, understands and uses data, while ensuring the experiences and voices of the community it supports remain central.
Faiqa began her career teaching in classrooms across the US before relocating to the UK. In 2022, she moved into the charity sector, focusing on the intersection of data, impact and authenticity.
Throughout her career, Faiqa has led a range of research initiatives, including work exploring inclusion in the UK curriculum, enhancing oral history archives, and examining the relationship between online mentoring and social mobility. Her work has been driven by a commitment to equity, human dignity and using evidence to create meaningful change.
Faiqa said:
“I want to use data for good – in a world where we could build anything, let’s build a place where we support each other and our collective flourishing. I’m excited to bring this approach to Scotty’s at a time when the charity is growing its support to the wider military bereavement community. I want to help ensure that the voices and experiences of the community Scotty’s supports are reflected in the evidence we gather, the impact we measure and the decisions we make.”
Stuart Robinson, CEO of Scotty’s, said:
“Understanding our impact has always been important at Scotty’s, but as we grow our support to reach anyone affected by military-connected bereavement, it becomes even more critical. We need to understand what is making a real difference, where we can improve and where there are gaps in support, so that we can continue to develop what we offer based on evidence and the experiences of the community.
“Faiqa brings a brilliant combination of research experience, a real belief in the power of data and, importantly, a commitment to making sure evidence never becomes detached from the people behind it. Her appointment is an investment in our ability to learn, improve and demonstrate the difference Scotty’s can make for people affected by military-connected bereavement.”
For more than 16 years, Scotty’s has combined lived experience with professional expertise, academic research and the voices of the bereaved military community to understand what works, what doesn’t and where there are gaps in support.
Founded in 2010 by Army widow Nikki Scott after her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009, Scotty’s began as Scotty’s Little Soldiers, supporting bereaved military children and young people. Children remain at the heart of the charity and continue to be supported through the Scotty’s Little Soldiers service, while adults can now access support too.
Today, Scotty’s supports and empowers anyone affected by military-connected bereavement. This includes people grieving the death of someone who had served in the British Armed Forces, whatever their relationship to that person, the cause or circumstance of their death, as well as those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and are experiencing a bereavement of their own.
Support is available across the British Armed Forces community, including regulars, reserves and veterans, and from every branch of the Armed Forces.
Scotty’s helps children, young people and adults to have confidence and clarity in navigating their entitlements, the chance to build social connections, the very best mental health and wellbeing support, and outstanding development opportunities.
Scotty’s ambition is to empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved people by 2035.
To find out more about Scotty’s visit www.scottys.org.uk.
