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Are you eligible?

Use the checklist below to see if you are eligible for our support.

 We support children up to and including the age of 25

At least one of the child’s parents (or guardian/primary care giver) is serving or served in one of the following:

The Royal Navy
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary RFA
The Royal Marines
The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service
The Women’s Royal Naval Service WRNS
The Reserves of those Forces

How to get help?

You can ring our office and speak to a caseworker and one of our caseworking team will discuss your needs and send you a form to complete, or click below and fill out the form and we will be in touch. You can also go to RN FPS (Naval Family Service & People Support), SSAFA, RBL or one of the other Naval Charities.

Speak to a caseworker

Available from 9.00am to 4.00pm Mon – Friday

023 9263 9534

caseworkers@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk

If you need our help please complete a short online form and we will be in touch.

What do we do?

We provide financial and holistic support to help children (up to the age of 25) of Naval families, serving and veterans.

Resources, advice and
guidance on coping with
deployments and
separation

Coping as a separated family
either through deployment,
weekending or relationship
breakdown

Impact of moving as
a result of Service

Parental disability, illness
or injury

Loss of a parent
or sibling

Relationship breakdown and
the impact on children

Children with disability,
illness or special needs

Life chances for
Naval children

All child related needs
are considered

Additional information

If you or your child are having emotional or mental health difficulties you may find some of the links below helpful. If you think you are eligible for our support and need our help, please get in touch either using the form on this website or by contacting our caseworkers.

Health

Many families are coping with disability or illness, either of the parent or one of their children. We can provide assistance with child specific needs such as wheelchairs, beds, specialist equipment, house adaptations as well as with the additional financial constraints that can arise.

If your child is ill or has a disability and you would like to ask for help for equipment or other needs, we will require an application form to be completed along with the following supporting information:

  • Any medical reports/letters that support or recommend your request.
  • Does the NHS provide the equipment or service that you are requesting? We need you to ask the NHS this question and provide their answer in writing to us.
  • Reports from Occupational Therapists and other professionals regarding your child/children may also be required depending on the request.
  • Is there a waiting list for the equipment/need and how long is it? Again, we require the NHS to supply the answer in writing.
  • Cost of the equipment/service/need in the form of an invoice or quotation plus confirmation of how long it may take once ordered’

 

We prefer to purchase such equipment directly from the suppliers to be delivered to you.

SEND Family Support Online

The Naval Children’s Charity have a new partnership with KIDS, a national charity for disabled children, young people and their families.  Family Support Online is a new service from KIDS for Parents and Carers of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). There is a wealth of support on their website www.kids.org.uk and the bespoke Family Support Online website https://www.kids.org.uk/news/family-support-online/ and the Naval Children’s Charity can help support you with the costs of the ongoing support following your initial free consultation with them.  Contact Cheryl Owens, our Neurodiversity Lead, to find out more Cheryl.owens@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk 

NAS logo

National Autistic Society.

The Naval Children’s Charity have a partnership with the National Autistic Society to help our children and young people access guidance and support. If you have a child who is, or who may be, Autistic and you are struggling to find support in your area please contact us to see if you are suitable for a referral to their services through us. There is a wealth of information on their website as well, follow the link to the right.

Over the wall logo

Jump into a world of imagination and adventure with Camp 365!

Camp 365, bought to you by Over The Wall, offers a diverse range of fun online activities, live events and workshops that are available 365 days a year for children and young people living with serious illness or disability. You will find a wide range of engaging activities that you can complete at your own time, or join in on exciting live sessions from different partners. You can also earn stamps for your virtual passport by completing the different activities. Interact with your fellow campers when taking part in an online workshop and events, join in Cabin Chats, post a secure message on the message board, and even show off your skills in the gallery.

Access logo

Enabling young people to self-manage their wellbeing rapidly

If you think your child needs counselling support you may be able to apply for a grant from us to help pay for that. You may already have a counselling provider however if not you can source someone through TAC Access.
TAC ACCESS is a groundbreaking directory of children and young people’s services. Currently focusing on the provision of counselling support, it provides a free service to a wide range of commissioners with access to checked and accredited therapists at the click of a button.

Useful Links

How we can help you

Apply for Financial Assistance using the Lightning Reach portal.

For applications for financial assistance you can apply by clicking on Register for Help below which will take you to the Lightning Reach portal. This platform is provided by our trusted partner, Lightning Reach, a social impact startup which uses secure technology to make the application process as quick and safe as possible for you.

A simple 3 step process
  1. Register and complete your profile here
    When asked to specify which of the Armed Forces you have served in, make sure to select ‘Royal Navy’, ‘Royal Marines’, ‘Merchant Navy in support of the Armed Forces’ or from the roles / industries list to ensure you are matched to Naval Children’s Charity.

  2. Once you’ve completed your profile, you should receive a support match to The Naval Children’s Charity. Click ‘continue’ to complete and submit your application.

  3. Provide your supporting evidence and submit your application to The Naval Children’s Charity.

Once your application has been made a caseworker will be in touch as soon as possible, this is usually within 3 days.

The profile you create on the Lightning Reach portal can also help you to find and apply for support from other support organisations easily and securely. We recommend that you submit your application to The Naval Children’s Charity first before submitting applications to other organisations.

For help with completing your application, visit Lightning Support and search for ‘The Naval Children’s Charity’.

If you have a question or not sure what help you need and require information or advice please use this online form.

Alternatively, If you would prefer to call our casework team, we can be contacted on 023 9263 9534, our office hours are 0830-1600 Monday to Friday.

How we can help you

The Naval Children’s Charity supports children up to and including the age of 25 whose parent(s) serve or have served in the Naval Service: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, QARNNS, WRNS, their Reserves and the RFA. If you need information or advice regarding support for your child(ren) please fill in the form to the best of your knowledge. One of our caseworkers will then contact you.

If you would prefer to call us we can be contacted on 023 9263 9534, our office hours are 0830-1600 Monday to Thursday and 0830-1300 on Friday.