As the nights draw in and we look towards the festive season, we are reminded of our loved ones and how precious time spent together is. For some it is not always a guarantee, with deployment, understandably, being harder on Naval families at this time of year.
We have various resources available to help navigate what can be an incredibly difficult time coping with separation.
Wellbeing Packs and Doing DistanceÂ
Our wellbeing packs are free for families; each contains 1 book, 1 resource and 1 additional extra. Families can tailor a pack to the child in question, meaning you can make the call on which materials best suit your individual circumstances.Â
Doing Distance worksheets are also available to download, with useful activities to help support a child struggling with separation. Â
Please visit our website to learn more and order a pack:Â https://www.navalchildrenscharity.org.uk/resources/
Other resources out there…
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Aggies Storybook Waves
Aggie’s Storybook Waves enables personnel serving in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary to record a bedtime story for their children to listen to whilst they are separated. Once recorded, trained volunteer editors add a soundtrack and create a story for each child so they can listen to a parent’s voice whenever they want. You also receive a pack that includes age-appropriate deployment journals, bookmarks, and Aggie’s mini medals
Reading Force
Supports families and Ex-forces families with free, fun shared reading resources and activities such as scrap booking and wellbeing journals.
Operation Silent Star
This specialist pack was created by the lovely Jas, mother to Theo (6) and wife to a current serving Submariner. After years married to a Submariner and experiencing deployments as a parent, Jas was shocked at the lack of tailored resources for Submariner children who go through such a unique experience during these periods of separation. What started as an idea of some nautical themed colouring pages and a few puzzles – turned into Operation Silent Star! This pack is a great resource and the fact it was created by a Submariner family makes it even more special. The versatile resources can be utilised to support all children and families experiencing separation during deployments, especially around Christmas when it can become even harder.
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To access this wonderful pack please follow the link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jogm1bApxySAbfBc0KCoLSCZjCm0keF2/view?usp=drivesdk
Sporty Stars and Albatross Arts – Spaces Available!
We are excited to announced that spaces are now available to book on two of our Life Chances programmes!
Sporty Stars’ award-winning day-camps offer traditional sports, art & crafts and inflatable activities. This opportunity is open to young people aged 5 to 12 with ten fully funded spaces available at each location.
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Locations: Plymouth Marjon and University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus
Dates: 22/23 & 29/30 December
Albatross Arts offers 1-hour online creative workshops led by experienced artist facilitators for children aged 10 to 14. Ten spaces available.                                             Â
Location: UK wide – online
Dates: 22/02/2026, 01/03/2026, 08/03/2026, 15/03/2026
Spaces will be allocated based on information given on the expression of interest form. Please check out our website for more information and to apply NOW!
NCC Expense and Income Tracker
With Christmas around the corner; the thought of buying gifts, decorating the home, pantos, Santa and all things festive, can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. We have created a useful Expense and Income Tracker to help manage finances and hopefully save some money. This handy budgeting tool can be accessed via our website:
Clare Scherer MBE
CEO, Naval Children’s Charity