Every Thursday afternoon throughout November, members of Raglan CiW VC Primary School’s Service Children Club had a very special visitor. Artie, a community dog from the Support Paws programme, delivered by our colleagues at the fantastic charity Veterans With Dogs, joined the pupils for a series of sessions.
The Support Paws programme brings community dogs into schools to provide tailored support that goes far beyond standard school‑dog activities. Their evidence‑based approach has been carefully developed to help military‑connected children and young people with emotional wellbeing and social connection.
Artie’s handler, Sarah, has drawn on her own lived experience to help shape this programme. With a husband currently serving in the Armed Forces and two teenage children, she understands the unique pressures Service children face: frequent moves, parental deployments, and constantly changing school environments. These transitions can bring emotional and academic challenges that many civilian families do not encounter.
Headteacher Sarah Marles said: “It is a fantastic initiative, and we were thrilled to be involved. We truly appreciate the opportunity to work alongside you in delivering such a meaningful and supportive experience for our children. We are excited to share the positive impact this programme has had, with pupils demonstrating improved emotional resilience and growing confidence. It has truly fostered a nurturing environment for our pupils.”
With Caroline Hammond, the club lead adding: "Thank you so much for organising the Support Paws programme, the children have thoroughly enjoyed their time with Sarah and, of course, Artie. The programme was really helpful, not just for the children as Service Children, but also for the children facing everyday challenges like moving house, transition to a new class and transition to secondary school. Sarah was incredibly friendly and patient with our children and Artie is so well-behaved and calm - the children loved giving her a 'nose-bump' at the end of every session."
A huge thank you to Veterans With Dogs, Sarah, the Support Paws team, and—most importantly—Artie, for working with SSCE Cymru to bring this wonderful opportunity to a school in Wales. We hope to run more sessions together in the future.
"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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