Service children in Wales
The SSCE Cymru Seren of the Month is usually dedicated to one, or occasionally two, individuals we want to recognise as SSCE Cymru SERENS/STARS. It is our team’s way of publicly saying thank you and acknowledging members of our network who have shown exceptional support for Service children and for our programme. Each month, we are fortunate that we never struggle to find someone who has truly stood out.
However, for the first time ever, our team was torn. We knew we wanted to recognise a Service child for the Month of the Military Child, but choosing just one proved impossible. So, for April, the Seren of the Month is awarded to ALL the incredible Service children in education across Wales, with a special mention to those who took part in the recent Service Pupil Promise events for Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot local authorities.
The Service Pupil Promise is an initiative designed to celebrate, support and empower Armed Forces connected children and young people by giving them a direct voice in shaping the support they receive from schools and local authorities. And you certainly used your voices at those events. We heard fantastic contributions from so many of you, including Jaxon and Paislee (Tonnau Primary School), Nyla (Ysgol Gymraeg Calon y Cymoedd), Faith, Ava‑Grace and Naveah (Llangatwg Community School), Monica (Brynteg Comprehensive School), Nathaniel (Pencoed Comprehensive School), and Annabelle (Coety Primary School), to name just a few!
The insights shared at these events are helping us build a clear picture of the support currently in place across schools and local authorities, what is working well, and what you would like to see more of in the future. Thank you for working with us. By sharing your lived experiences, you enable us to continue advocating on your behalf, highlighting the excellent practice already happening in many schools and ensuring we work together to deliver on the promises made to you.
"Being a military child is hard, but it also gets you a lot of new experiences that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise".
Esme-Jane
"For military children they [Mount Street Junior School] do a club called Little Troopers, they've done a Remembrance service, purple up day. We celebrate Holi and Dawali".
Arushi
"My Mum is my parent that is in the Armed Forces. She is a reservist. So when I was younger it was a lot worse, she travelled around a lot. I've lived in the same house my whole life, but she has moved around me. I was in a constant cycle of saying goodbye".
Emma
"My Dad, he's in the Army and he works in the Engineers and he goes away on week days and comes back on weekends"
Emily
"Dad often goes away. It is a bit worrying not knowing where your Dad is going. It does worry me and my sister. Yeah, you just never know when he's coming home".
Joe
"In June or July, my Dad is going away quite far. He's in the Army, he's a chef. Having your Dad gone is so sad."
Josie
"I've lived in many places. So, I was born in Cyprus, after that I've been to Germany, then I went to this place called Stafford. Then another place which is Wales."
Dominic
"I've moved seven times in fourteen years."
Lilia
"Now we've got a forever home. I never have to worry about leaving or how long until I am leaving. I feel like I belong here a lot more, that's always great."
Oliver
"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."
Aiden
"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."
Ashim
"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."
Chloe
"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times, it’s just a normal thing now."
Chloe
"It's ok talking over skype and that, but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."
Georgia
"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."
Lewis
"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, it's adventurous and exciting."
Harry
"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."
Ieuan
"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."
Mia
"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."
Oliver
"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."
Ryan
"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."
Shana
"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."
Sianed
"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there,’ but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"
Sanjog
"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."
Piaras
"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."
Dan
Welsh Local Government Association
One Canal Parade
Dumballs Road
Cardiff
CF10 5BF
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