This month, SSCE Cymru had the immense pleasure of attending and supporting the National Armed Forces Day event hosted by Monmouthshire County Council. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks—diolch yn fawr!—to everyone involved in bringing this meaningful day to life. It was a truly collaborative effort and a fantastic example of community spirit and recognition of our Armed Forces and the Service children connected to them.
From a successful application to the SSCE-Wales Fund, Monmouthshire identified 130 military-connected Service children across the county. As part of the preparations to host Wales’ National Armed Forces Day 2025 at the historic Caldicot Castle, they launched a creative and inclusive project that placed these young people at the heart of the celebrations.
In the weeks leading up to the event, all Monmouthshire schools received wooden jigsaw pieces to decorate—an opportunity for Service children and their peers to express themselves and contribute to a shared vision. Schools across Wales were also invited to join in by designing printed paper versions, creating a nationwide feeling of unity and inclusion.
The completed jigsaw artwork, unveiled during the celebration, was a powerful visual symbol of connection, creativity, and community. It stood proudly as a testament to the voices and experiences of Service children, beautifully tying into April’s Month of the Military Child initiatives.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Caldicot Castle, this event did more than commemorate—it helped schools across Wales better understand and support the children of our Armed Forces. For the young people involved, it was a moment to feel seen, valued, and part of something bigger.
What a memorable and meaningful way to mark National Armed Forces Day—here’s to continued collaboration, creativity, and support in the year ahead.
And for those of you that took the time to visit our stand...good news, we found the toilets!
"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
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