SSCE Cymru journal

Children and young people across Wales aged 11-25 are being called upon to take part in the new Young Wales initiative called "The BIG conversation" and a group of Service children/young people from Haverfordwest High VC School were invited to add their voices to the conversation. The group met with some members from the Children in Wales and SSCE Cymru teams to discuss what mattered to them.  

Thank you to the amazing young people for participating, the brilliant staff at HHVCS for organising and hosting us and the Children in Wales team for including a group of Service children/young people living in Wales to be part of the converstaion. It certainly allowed them the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences on issues that effect their lives. We had a wonderful morning. 

Team Teulu with support from the staff, pupils and members of the Little Troopers Club at Ysgol Gynradd Baglan Primary School, welcomed Service children/young people from other local schools to their Forces Festival. 

Jo (SSCE Cymru Participation Lead Officer) and Mrs Leah Burnett (Brecon High School’s Family Forces Officer) were pleased to be invited to visit members of Haverfordwest High School’s Forces Life Club on their Summer camp.

The SSCE Cymru team had a great time at the Wales Airshow in Swansea on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July in Swansea. Saturday morning also featured Armed Forces Day 2024!!!

The annual Brecon Military Show is always a calander highlight. Hosted by the Infantry Battle School, in Dering Lines, Brecon. It is an opportunity for civilian and military families within the local community to come together to share in a day of fun filled activities.

Towards the end of May, the SSCE Cymru team were visiting some of our Armed Forces Friendly schools across East, West and South Wales to complete our filming days with CLECS Media. 

Millie, Programme Manager, and Cara, School Liaison Officer, have had a fantastic few days up in North Wales visiting Ysgol Glan Clwyd (Denbighshire) and Ysgol Pen y Bryn (Conwy) with filming company Clecs Media, to capture some new good practice and Service children story films.

Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog are a school in Denbighshire, North Wales, with one Service child. Please see below a quote from Headteacher, Laura Martin, and some lovely photos of what they got up to in April to celebrate Month of the Military Child!

Haverfordwest High VC School are a secondary school in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, with 60 Service children. 

Ysgol Penygloddfa, a primary school in Powys with 4 Service children, had a busy month full of Month of the Military Child celebrations during April. Service children and their peers took part in hosting charity bake sales, sporty activities such as zumba and wheelchair basketball, arts and crafts sessions which included creating dandelion art sculptures and a banner for purple up day to name a few! 

Please see below some wonderful photos of the children enjoying activities that took place and a quote from ALNCo Tammy highlighting the positive impact of these acitvities on their Service children.

Cwmclydach Primary School in Rhondda Cynon Taf celebrate achieving their Silver Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru status.

On the morning of Thursday 8th Febuary, Baglan Primary School, in Neath Port Talbot, were presented with their Silver Armed Forces Friendly School (AFFS) Cymru status, in recognition of their whole school approach when creating a positive and welcoming environment for Service children on their role. 

The fourth and final Forces Festival was held in South Wales and took place in Maindy Barracks on 23rd January 2024. The event saw over 70 Service children and their peers come together from ten different schools across Bridgend, Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan for a day of fun and exciting activities and workshops. Service children were able to share their experiences with fellow Service children and make friends from other schools.

On Tuesday January 23rd the Service children at Baglan Primary school had a visit from the Army Engagement Team. They spent some time with the team and took part in STEM activities. 

Jo (Participation Leader Officer) was invited to Baglan Primary School to visit their Little Troopers Cub. 

The SSCE Cymru had a really interesting and informative day at the SCiP (Service Children's Progression) Alliance annual conference in Birmingham, which this year had a theme of 'Identify matters'.

Llanfair Primary School in the Vale of Glamorgan hosted a celebration assembly upon receiving their Armed Forces Friendly School (AFFS) Cymru Bronze status.

Service children and young people from schools across North Wales come together for the first Forces Festival in North Wales hosted by SSCE Cymru at RAF Valley.

On the Saturday 18th November, our Participation Lead Officer, Jo was joined by some of our Service children Ambassadors at this years Young Wales Festival. This event took place in the Great Hall of the Bay Campus, Swansea University and was hosted by Children in Wales. 

Baglan Primary school achieve their Bronze Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru Status!