Subscribe to our Newsletter
DONATE
NEED OUR HELP?

Author: seandexter11085

Posted on

The Naval Children’s Charity Attends Screening of My Mother’s Wedding

What a special evening in London! Staff, Trustees, Young Ambassadors and beneficiary from The Naval Children’s Charity were honoured to attend a special screening of My Mother’s Wedding, the new film from our Patron, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas.

The film draws on Dame Kristin’s own childhood experiences, including the loss of both her father and stepfather, who were Royal Navy pilots. A powerful and deeply personal story, it resonated with our charity’s mission to support naval children and young people.

Film out in cinemas on 29th May.

Posted on

Making Space

Making Space 2 hour craft workshops

Dates: From May 2026 – February 2027
Ages: 7-11 years
You can book up to 3 workshops per child
Location: Making Space, 2 Bishopstoke Road, Leigh Park, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 5BN
Fully funded opportunity

2-hour craft making workshops with friendly, expert and experienced makers to teach and guide your child in a variety of small craft projects.

Making Space is a warm and welcoming purpose-built creative hub that runs activities based around different craft disciplines at all skills levels. It has been active for over 20 years, has expert experience and skills in supporting SEND children. 

How to apply:

There will be a maximum of 10 children at any one workshop, meaning the groups never feel ‘too much’ or too intimidating. The workshops are designed for children to stay on their own, but parents can wait until their child is settled or even enjoy a coffee in the corridor shop if they want to stay on site. There is a car park nearby as well as places to grab a coffee.

You can book up to 3 workshops per child

 

Wednesday 5 August – 1pm-3pm – Hoop Art with Bethany Wood – Learn modern embroidery techniques in this playful ‘Hoop Art’ workshop! Come up with a design you love then learn simple, decorative embroidery stitches to bring it to life.

 

Wednesday 19 August – 1pm-3pm – Ceramic plaques and Sgraffito with Kelly Ottesen – Design and make your own decorative wall plaque from clay. Perfect for bedroom doors you can make something utterly unique. All items will be fired after the session and will need to be collected later.

 

Wednesday 28 October – 10am-12noon – Beaded Jewellery with Chelsea Barrett – Come and get creative in this expressive beaded jewellery workshop – Using a variety of beads and findings, design and make your own range of jewellery items to take home.

 

Wednesday 28 October -1pm-3pm – Typographic Collage with Bethany Wood – A fun and creative way to make artwork from your favourite saying, quote or song lyric – Create decorative papers first before using collage to transform words into art!

 

Wednesday 17 February 2027 – 10am-12noon – Clay Animal Sculpture with Kelly Ottesen – Time to let your creativity shine – have a go at sculpting wonderful animal sculptures from clay.  All items will be fired after the session and will need to be collected later.

 

Wednesday 17 February 2027 – 1pm-3pm – Felting with Kelly Ottesen – Explore how loose fleece fibers can be transformed into colourful felted backgrounds which you can then embellish with needle felting or further decorative elements to create your own textile art. 

 

Apply Now
Posted on

Month of the Military Child 2026

In the Month of the Military Child 2026, we are coming together to celebrate our Naval children and launching our downloadable School Resource pack.
At the Naval Children’s Charity, our vision is that the children of serving and veterans, Royal Navy and Royal Marines families have their spirit and talent unlocked, giving them a brighter future and helping them to realise their full potential.

 

The pack contains information about our support for children and some activities to help classmates better understand the difficulties that Naval children can face. All while having some creative fun!! You can download or request a pack from this website.

Posted on

Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell KCB, CBE appointed President of The Naval Children’s Charity

Sir Martin Connell, a former Vice Admiral with an exceptional 39‑year career in the Royal Navy, not only brings deep leadership experience to his new role as President of The Naval Children’s Charity, but also genuine compassion and commitment. Having served for several years as the Charity’s Vice Chair of Trustees, Sir Martin has already played a pivotal role in shaping its strategic direction and championing support for Naval families. His distinguished service includes commanding ships such as HMS Severn, HMS Chatham, and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, as well as senior roles including Commander Amphibious Task Group, Naval Attaché in Washington D.C., Director Force Generation, and ultimately Second Sea Lord. Recognised with honours including CBE and KCB, Sir Martin now continues his dedication to the Naval community by leading NCC’s mission to support children and young people with a parent who serves or has served in the Royal Navy.

 

Reflecting on his appointment, Sir Martin said:

My time as a trustee of the Naval Children’s Charity for the past 7 years has been hugely rewarding, and I’m honoured to be invited to be the next President of this wonderful Charity. Families are an integral part of the wider armed forces community, but occasionally they need an additional helping hand which the NCC provides. I look forward to continuing to champion the great work of the NCC staff and advocating for all naval children.

 

Chair of Trustees, Christopher Tite said:

As we warmly welcome Sir Martin into his new role, we also extend our heartfelt thanks to outgoing President Lt General Sir James Dutton KCB CBE for his years of steadfast service. The Charity is deeply grateful for his commitment, support, and advocacy for the families and young people we serve.

 

About The Naval Children’s Charity

The NCC has supported Naval children, young people and their families for over 200 years, providing financial, emotional and practical support through its dedicated team of professional caseworkers and its various programmes of support with a focus on children’s wellbeing and development.

Posted on

MAKE:CREATE with Albatross Arts Easter camp 12-16 year old’s (Afternoons only)

MAKE:CREATE with Albatross Arts Easter camp 12-16 year old's (Afternoons only)

ACTIVITY NOW CLOSED

Week-long art course exploring a variety of media you don’t get in the classroom. Each day you’ll be introduced to a different artist as your inspiration and make work you can take home to use or display.

How to apply:

MAKE:CREATE is a week-long art course exploring a variety of media you don’t get in the classroom. Each day you’ll be introduced to a different artist as your inspiration and make work you can take home to use or display. Try new processes, experiment with materials, meet people with similar interests to you and have fun along the way. All materials and support provided in these artist-lead workshops. Free, creative expression opportunities on your doorstep. What’s not to love?

 

This opportunity is open to young people aged 12 to 16.

 

10 spaces are available.

The Annex, Helensburgh Civic Centre, 38 E Clyde St, Helensburgh G84 7PG

 

Spaces will be allocated based on the information on the expression of interest form.

ACTIVITY NOW CLOSED

Apply Now
Fun workshops that build creative confidence and give the opportunity to try new creative activities. A box with everything you need for the 4 weeks will be posted out to you. Great for those who already enjoy making and art with their children and to total beginners! All activities are fun, no pressure and led by experienced artists facilitators.
Posted on

MAKE:CREATE with Albatross Arts Easter camp 7-11 year old’s (Mornings only)

MAKE:CREATE with Albatross Arts Easter camp 7-11 year old's (Mornings only)

ACTIVITY NOW CLOSED

Week-long art course exploring a variety of media you don’t get in the classroom. Each day you’ll be introduced to a different artist as your inspiration and make work you can take home to use or display.

How to apply:

MAKE:CREATE is a week-long art course exploring a variety of media you don’t get in the classroom. Each day you’ll be introduced to a different artist as your inspiration and make work you can take home to use or display.

 

Try new processes, experiment with materials, meet people with similar interests to you and have fun along the way. All materials and support provided in these artist-lead workshops. Free, creative expression opportunities on your doorstep. What’s not to love?


This opportunity is open to young people aged 7 to 11.
10 spaces are available.


The Annex, Helensburgh Civic Centre, 38 E Clyde St, Helensburgh G84 7PG
Spaces will be allocated based on the information on the expression of interest form.

Apply Now

ACTIVITY NOW CLOSED

Fun workshops that build creative confidence and give the opportunity to try new creative activities. A box with everything you need for the 4 weeks will be posted out to you. Great for those who already enjoy making and art with their children and to total beginners! All activities are fun, no pressure and led by experienced artists facilitators.
Posted on

November 2025 newsletter

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 Distance 
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. 

Doing Distance worksheets are also available to download, with useful activities to help support a child struggling with separation.  
Please visit our website to learn more and order a pack: https://www.navalchildrenscharity.org.uk/resources/

Other resources out there…

 
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.

 

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.
 
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.                                                                                          
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:

 
Best wishes



Clare Scherer MBE
CEO, Naval Children’s Charity
Posted on

The Naval Children’s Charity has been named Armed Forces Family Support Charity of the Year 2025 – Portsmouth at the SME Southern Enterprise Awards.

We are delighted to announce that we have won the Armed Forces Family Support Charity of the Year 2025 – Portsmouth in the SME Southern Enterprise Awards.  Over the years, SME News’ team have kept their ears to the ground to stay updated with news from the best of the best – whether they’re longstanding successful businesses or those in their infancy with a promising future ahead. The team ensures that only the most deserving companies and individuals are showcased in the prestigious winners list and magazine year upon year. For eight years now, the Southern Enterprise Awards has been recognising utmost excellence across the innovative region.

 

This recognition arrives in our 200th year and celebrates the impact we have on thousands of naval children across the UK – from crisis support and wellbeing help to life-changing opportunities that build confidence and future skills.

 

A word from our CEO, Clare Scherer MBE:
“Thank you to SME Southern Enterprise. As we celebrate our 200th Anniversary, this Award recognises the difference we make every year. Whether we are supporting families through difficult times or opening doors to new opportunities, our team brings compassion, empathy and expertise to help children and young people thrive.”

 

Learn more about the awards and this year’s winners:
smenews.digital/awards/uk-southern-business-awards/

 

Houses of Parliament: Afternoon Tea

In October, the Naval Children’s Charity were honoured to hold a Bicentenary Reception at the Houses of Parliament. Hosted by Amanda Martin MP, it was a wonderful opportunity to continue our Bicentenary as we celebrate 200 years of the Charity supporting Naval children and their families. We were joined by members of our incredible Youth Council and their parents, as well as some of our Young Ambassadors, Trustees and supporters of the Charity. The Youth Council spoke passionately to visiting MPs about their volunteering roles and how the Naval Children’s Charity have supported them.

 

We were delighted to be joined by some of our wonderful Funders, including Deirdre Mills Director of one of our Primary Funders, Greenwich Hospital. Deirdre spoke with Outreach Caseworker for the Southwest, Karolina Kubica. She was able to hear firsthand about the vital work we do in the Southwest and wider communities and the support we offer.

 

The afternoon would not have been possible without Amanda who gave such a warm welcome and spoke passionately about her commitment to raising the Charity’s profile.

 

It was a truly joyful afternoon filled with laughter, conversation (and delicious sandwiches!) offering a moment to reflect on the Charity’s achievements and the lives it continues to support.

 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone that made this memorable event possible!

University Bursary application deadline extended! 

We are delighted to announce that we are extending our deadline for applications to our University Bursary scheme.  If you/your young person has not yet applied, they now have until the end of November.  Full details on eligibility and criteria can be found on our website here:  University Bursary Scheme – Naval Children’s Charity

 

New Families Hub – your one place for Service family support

The MoD’s new Families Hub is a “one stop shop” digital platform which signposts to helpful support, guidance and useful organisations.

 

It offers Service families a wealth of information, guidance and support to help navigate Service family life. The Families Hub is for all Armed Forces (Regular and Reserve) personnel and families, wherever you are in your Armed Forces journey – from the moment you enter the Forces, through to when you leave.
The significant role that Service families play in the Armed Forces community, and the unique pressures that can come with Service life, particularly in times of deployment and separation is fully recognised. To address the challenges faced by Naval families and the pressure Service Life can have there is a wide range of family friendly policies, guidance, and organisations that provide support.

 

To find out what help is available, use the following link to take you to the new
Families Hub www.discovermybenefits.mod.uk/families/

Posted on

Albatross Arts | Online Creative Workshops

Albatross Arts | Online 1 hour creative workshops

Dates: 20th September, 27th September, 4th October, 11th October, 18th October, 25th October

Times: 11am – 12pm.

Location: UK wide – online

Fully funded opportunity

Online 1 hour creative workshops for children aged 8 to 14. A parent or guardian must be present. A box of materials will be posted to you before the workshops start. Led by experienced artist facilitators.

How to apply:

This activity is now open

Apply Now
Fun workshops that build creative confidence and give the opportunity to try new creative activities. A box with everything you need for the 6 weeks will be posted to you. Great for those who already enjoy making art with their children and to total beginners! All activities are fun, with no pressure and led by experienced artists facilitators with experience of supporting ND children.

Feedback

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Alex for her patience with the sessions. My 2 boys are both ADHD and H is also Autistic and we found the sessions very relaxed and inclusive. Even when the boys were jumping about Alex didn’t even bat an eyelid! They enjoyed each session and love their creations! I hope we can do something like this again in the future and we have already discussed doing a weekly arts/crafts session at home. It has been a great activity to do while Dad is on deployment and with everything going on in the world at the moment it has been a great distraction!”
“I would highly recommend any children to join to join the course if they have opportunity.”
Posted on

Naval Children’s Charity won the Armed Forces Family Support Charity of the Year 2025

The Naval Children’s Charity are delighted to announce that they have won the Armed Forces Family Support Charity of the Year 2025 – Portsmouth in the SME Southern Enterprise Awards.  Over the years, SME News’ team have kept their ears to the ground to stay updated with news from the best of the best – whether they’re longstanding successful businesses or those in their infancy with a promising future ahead. The team ensures that only the most deserving companies and individuals are showcased in the prestigious winners list and magazine year upon year. For eight years now, the Southern Enterprise Awards has been recognising utmost excellence across the innovative region.


Including the success stories of animal sanctuaries to financial consultancies, mental health playlists to commercial removals, wealth planning and investment management to independent rock music productions, and so very much more, this year’s awards programme features another hugely diverse collection of accolade-worthy enterprises and individuals.


Awards Coordinator Kaven Cooper enthused: “Recognising and awarding such a fine variety of businesses in our Southern Enterprise Awards 2025 has been a fantastic journey for me, and for all of us at SME News. Every year we aim to discover and reward businesses which are setting the pace for their industries. I want to wish a sincere congratulations to our winners as they are featured in 2025’s winners list and magazine.”


To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the magnificent enterprises that have been selected for them, please visit smenews where you can view the winners supplement and full winners list.


CEO of The Naval Children’s Charity, Clare Scherer MBE said:
On behalf of all at the Naval Children’s Charity we offer our warmest thanks to SME Southern Enterprise.  As we celebrate our 200th Anniversary this Award recognises the impact we have on thousands of children annually around the UK.  Whether we are supporting their wellbeing in times of crisis or providing life changing opportunities to improve their development The Naval Children’s Charity bring compassion, empathy and expertise to helping our children and young people thrive. 


The photo shows the CEO, members of our Youth Council and our MP for Portsmouth North, Amanda Martin