SSCE Cymru would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all the incredible Service children and young people who were nominated for this year’s Celebrating Forces Families Awards, held on Friday, 25th April 2025.
This year, the awards team collaborated with Jacob Mason, whose father serves in the Submarine Service, to launch the Jacob’s Medal. Every Service child or young person nominated for the Young People’s Award will receive a Jacobs Medal in recognition of their personal achievements. We're proud to share that two of these medals were awarded to Service children living in Wales.
Congratulations to Luke Woodhouse and Rylee Greest!
Luke, who lives with a chronic, life-changing illness, received his Jacob’s Medal in recognition of the remarkable way he manages his condition while also supporting others in similar situations. At Pencoed Comprehensive School, Luke is part of a club created to support young people connected to the Armed Forces. He also enjoys engaging with veterans in his local community. Luke especially loves that the medal ribbon is purple—a colour symbolising support for both Service children and those affected by Crohn’s and Colitis.
Rylee's father serves in the Army, and frequent moves have been a part of his life. Now living in Powys and attending school in Brecon with his two brothers, Leo and Oliver, Rylee was nominated by a family friend impressed by how he copes with constant change—despite finding it very difficult. He is currently on the waiting list for an Additional Learning Needs (ALN) assessment.
Rylee’s mum, Sian, shared:
“My health is not the best, and Rylee always tries to be kind and caring. He helps me around the house and reads with his younger brother. Like so many military children, he really misses his dad when he has to go away for work. Every move is unsettling for him, but he continues to try his best. We are all so proud of him—and, of course, his brothers too.”
Luke and Rylee are two shining examples of the resilience and strength of Service children, each with unique challenges and experiences. Their stories are a powerful reminder of why it’s so important to celebrate the Month of the Military Child.
Bravo, Luke and Rylee!
"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
Designed & built by eInfinity Limited. Hosting & IT management at eInfinity Tech.