Colleagues from education, health and community organisations came together in Helensburgh this week for a collaborative session focused on strengthening support for Service children and families.
The event was led by Lesley Ure, Community and Service Lead at King’s Group Academies and funded by Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC). It brought together schools, local authorities and partner organisations to reflect on current practice and identify practical ways to strengthen support for children experiencing mobility, transition and wider pressures linked to Service life.
“I was delighted to attend and contribute to the Supporting Service Children and Families event in Helensburgh earlier this week. RNRMC has been working closely with Lesley and the Kings Group Academies for several years to ensure that children and young people feel supported at home, in school, and throughout the unique challenges of service life.
“Bringing Scottish sector partners together with educators created a valuable opportunity to collaborate on meaningful, practical improvements for supporting service families within our schools and communities. It was a pleasure to be part of such an important conversation.” – Lara Van de Peer, Grants Commissioning Manager at RNRMC Scotland.
The session created a positive and welcoming space for open discussion, with strong engagement from school leaders, pastoral teams and colleagues from health and community services. Conversations focused on local context, support services and how schools and partners can work together more effectively to respond to the movement and experiences of Service children.
“I’ve attended many events over the years and often felt that there were voices missing from the room – particularly those working closest with children and families on a daily basis.
“What made this session different was the space it created for those voices to be heard. Schools were not just present; they were central to the conversation.
“Bringing colleagues together in this way allows us to listen properly, reflect on what is happening in practice, and work collectively to identify realistic, meaningful improvements within our schools and communities.
“That kind of shared, collaborative approach is not only more effective — it’s sustainable, and it’s how we continue to strengthen support for Service children and families over time.”
Lesley Ure, Community and Service Lead at King’s Group Academies, said.
Throughout the morning, colleagues explored what is working well across schools, where challenges remain, and how collaboration can support practical and sustainable improvements.
Looking forward
Lesley and RNRMC are working together to strengthen these relationships across the UK, with the next workshop taking place in Plymouth at the China Fleet club at the end of April.
Gosport Community Hub also offer ‘Welcome Wednesday’ for serving personnel, families, and veterans, find out more here: Welcome Wednesday | The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity
Follow this link for more information about how RNRMC provides support for Royal Navy & Royal Marines Serving Personnel and their families. Supporting You | The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity
