SSCE Cymru Journal

Baglan Primary School Armed Forces Garden Party

Baglan Primary School Armed Forces Garden Party

Neath Port Talbot

On Friday 10th July Becca and Jo were delighted to attend the Armed Forces Garden Party at Baglan Primary School.. 

Eve Wilson, Service Children School Champion at Baglan Primary School shared; 

"The Armed Forces Garden Party was a wonderful celebration that brought together service children and families from across Neath Port Talbot, alongside members of the wider Armed Forces Community. A key highlight of the event was Baglan Primary School's renewal of its Gold Armed Forces Friendly School Award, recognising the school's ongoing commitment to supporting service children and their families. 

The occasion also marked the launch of the Pupil Promise, a meaningful pledge created by the service children themselves, ensuring that children's voices are heard and that every pupil feels valued, respected and supported. This was a powerful example of children leading change within their school community and having a genuine say in matters that affect them.

The afternoon was filled with fun activities, games and opportunities for families to connect, helping to build friendships and strengthen community bonds. Children thoroughly enjoyed the range of engaging activities on offer, while families appreciated the delicious afternoon tea. The event had a lasting positive impact, celebrating the achievements of service children, promoting inclusion, and reinforcing the importance of listening to young people so that they feel heard, valued and empowered"

The event was a perfect example of the how the NPT military community comes together to support and celebrate one another. It was lovely seeing so many different generations mixing together and great to hear from Nicola Morgan (Headteacher), Julie Stapleton (Vulnerable Learners Service) and Captain Huw Williams MBE (PASO for 157 (Welsh) Regt RLC) about their experiences of the SSCE Cymru programme and the positive outcomes that have been achieved for Service children due to their hard work and that of other staff in schools across NPT. 

Thank you for such a wonderful event. 

Service children’s quotes

"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

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