Sharing Best Practice tosupport Service Children Winter 2011

Service Children Support Network

In this issue….

The SCSN Annual Conference‘Setting Sail in Falmouth’‘HMS Heroes’The Clear Sky Children’s Foundation

SCSN

As I write this the darker evenings are well and trulyupon us, Halloween and the cheerful visits from theyoung ‘Trick or Treaters’ from the Patch are donefor another year, Remembrance Sunday is fastapproaching and we have been reflecting on a verybusy period for SCSN. It is hard to believe that afterthe many months of planning and hard work theinaugural SCSN Conference finally went ahead on7th November and the feedback we have receivedthus far shows that it was an extremely useful andinformative event. Drawing delegates from acrossthe whole of the UK and Germany, it was reallygood to have such a wide range of people presentwho were keen to share their experiences with eachother. We were also pleased to host a film crewfrom the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS)News Team at the event and they conducted aseries of interviews with speakers and delegatesthat was subsequently aired across the wholeForces community on their daily news programme.

The Conference came hot on the heels of anotherevent that Kev and I hosted at the NationalMaritime Museum in Falmouth, Cornwall, at theend of October. Cornwall has a large population ofService children associated with RNAS Culdrose, oneof the busiest helicopter airfields in Europe and thelargest single employer in the County. Quite a fewRAF families live in the area around RAF St Mawganand RAF Portreath too, and of course, a largenumber of RN and RM families live in Cornwall andDevon due to the presence of the Devonportdockyard and the RM Commando Training Centre atLympstone. Professionals in the area often feel alittle cut off from sources of support and SCSN arekeen to reach out and help where we can.Coincidentally, we have just been informed that theCornwall Community Fund has approved a SCSN bidfor funds to support future training events in theCounty so we plan to return in the new year.

So, as we brace ourselves for the winter months andstart to prepare for the Festive Season ahead, wehope that each and everyone of you has had a

prosperous 2011 and that you will spare a thoughtfor those Service families who will be separatedfrom their deployed loved ones at this special time.In particular, please remember those families whohave given the ultimate sacrifice for their countrythis year and will be facing their first Christmasalone.

Joy O’Neill - Founder and Chair, SCSN

To end, I would just like to share a letter that Ireceived earlier this week…

Dear Editor,

I hope that I qualify to contribute to your SCSNnewsletter. As a grandparent to three servicechildren (now young people) for the past 20 years Ifeel that I have some connection. I must congratu-late you and all the professionals involved for thewonderful way that you are seeking to help improvethe lot of service children.

I read with interest all the articles and informationdisplayed on your website. Long may it continue.Life for anyone is full of positives and negatives, butthe experiences for service children can only standthem in good stead for later life, for example, theysee new parts of the UK or overseas, they absorbthe culture that they are living in and they makenew friends (some of which remain friends for manyyears) they also know that there are other familiesgoing through the same highs and lows as them-selves. If things do not run according to plan thenyour organization is now at hand to help.

Yours sincerely,‘A Service Grandmother’

SCSN Update

Heather Ogburn (left) and somefellow delegates at the Falmouth Event.

Her Majesty's Schools (HMS) Heroes is a unique Tri-Service pupil voice group formed in the City ofPlymouth that enables Service children and youngpeople, from pre-school age to eighteen, to meetand share their challenges, successes andaspirations in an atmosphere of safety andunderstanding. Heroes promote peer support andprovide a wide range of child initiated activities andprojects to strengthen the bonds of friendship andunderstanding. Most importantly, Heroes are friendsfor each other, especially in times of need.

HMS Heroes Invite You to Join Up!

Any school, pre- school, out of school club or cadetforce can join HMS Heroes . In Plymouth alone,Heroes already have over 1500 members of pre-school, primary and secondary school age and willaffiliate to the Royal British Legion, our activesupporter, by the end of 2011. Heroes meet in theirschools and settings and, in Plymouth, delegatesfrom each of these groups meet approximately oncea month to report on their support network andshare practice. They also engage in a variety ofprojects that link them all together. All Heroesgroups have a dedicated space on our website, fulluse of the logo and motto and they can purchaseHeroes T shirts at cost. The delegate meetings arealso within the minimal membership fee. Heroeshave their own unique Royal British LegionStandard. This is paraded at many events and eachindividual group holds the standard for one week,each year. This includes a free session on standardbearing and the history and significance of standardsfrom an experienced RBL standard bearer. TheStandard s sponsored by the RBL and businesses.

So what do Heroes do?

To date they have created their logo, motto andtheir own ‘passport to School’ to help Service familychildren to integrate quickly. They have talked toserving members about what it feels like when theyare left at home to raise adult awareness of thestresses of deployment and interviewed an MP andthe Councillors about Service life and accompanyingissues. They have even given a presentation to theMOD. Heroes have supported many events includ-ing a dedication and wreath laying in their own areaof the Field of Remembrance at Wootton Bassett,paraded their standard at the Second Tank regimentreturn and the 3 Brigade Service and parade inPlymouth. The standard has also been paraded atFestivals of Remembrance in Devon and Plymouthand wreaths have been laid by Heroes at variousmemorial services in their areas. Heroes membersthrive on supporting others and engaging in inter-generational dialogue. They designed their ownstandard dedication service, were at the heart of therecent anniversary of the Blitz commemoration and,most importantly, are firm supporters of the RoyalBritish Legion raising £900 in this, their 90thanniversary year.

The Future?The group aims to grow membership across thecountry so that, wherever they find themselves,there will be Heroes nearby, that they can join, toshare and celebrate Service life and communityengagement. Look out for Heroes and theirStandard, a Google search will show some of whatwe do, as does our website. Looking forward, a busyprogramme is planned with many events throughoutthe academic year and across the school holidays. Amember of Heroes will carry the Olympic Torchthrough Plymouth in May 2012 and work isunderway to support British Armed Forces Day2012. Locally, Heroes will be developing their pupilvoice to work with the wider Youth Parliamentscheme and will be considering the way theycommunicate their thoughts and ideas acrosssociety. Most importantly, Heroes continue to worktogether to help themselves and their families tocope with deployment.

Join Up!For further information please go towww.hmsheroes.co.uk or contact:heather.ogburn@plymouth.gov.uk

Telephone: 01752 307485

HMS Heroes- ‘Together as One’

SCSN Profile

Name:Sue Webster

Occupation:

University Lecturer

So what’s your background?

I began my career in banking and finance and it was during this time that I married andbecame a young Service wife on a RAF station in Norfolk. After becoming a parent, Ifound the career I was looking for and worked in the voluntary sector leading an earlyyears setting before achieving a leading role in an Early Excellence Centre in ChippingNorton with responsible for outreach and training. Later developing a Sure Start Localprogramme in Coventry, I have undertaken a variety of consultancy and evaluation roleswith a focus on leadership development in the a range of organisations developingintegrated working approaches.

What are your most recent achievements?

I have extensive experience developing and writing leadership development materialsincluding contributing to the National Professional Qualification in Integrated CentreLeadership (NPQICL) programme and undergraduate modules at University of Warwick.

I have also developed and delivered training for NPQICL facilitators and mentors,facilitates an NPQICL learning community and have coordinated the national Children’sCentre Leaders’ Network (CCLN). Through my role with CCLN, I re-engaged with Servicelife through the experiences of children’s centre leaders supporting Service families andcreating children’s centre activities on military bases. My published works includeresearch in the EECERA journal and contributions to two edited textbooks, both with aleadership focus.

What are you working on at the moment?

I teach on the Early Childhood degree at the University ofWarwick and in Singapore. I have an MA in Early ChildhoodEducation and am currently undertaking Doctoral study toinvestigate the experience of early childhood in a militaryfamily.

“…children are disappearing from theoutdoors at a rate that would make thetop of any conservationist’s list ofendangered species if they were anyother member of the animal kingdom…”Gill (2005)There’s nothing quite as refreshing as an afternoonspent doing something a little different in the greatoutdoors, and there are plenty of special places tobe explored. But did you know that there are lots ofexciting events taking place across Salisbury Plainwhere you can learn about the natural world onyour doorstep? Well, you can with the ‘There isSpace Here!’ project! We provide opportunities forfamilies living in Bulford, Larkhill, Tidworth andWarmister and the best bit is that they’re all FREE!

The ‘There is Space Here!’ project was created toenable residents from military dominated areas toexplore the nature on their doorstep. We areworking with local communities, promoting greaterunderstanding of where these special spaces areand how they can be enjoyed by kids and adultsalike. The project received funding from NaturalEngland’s Access to Nature programme, The BigLottery, The Army Welfare Service, WiltshireWildlife Trust and the Underwood Trust and so farwe have created over 100 opportunities for childrenand families to get out and explore their localenvironment and have attracted over 3500 people!

This December we have 2 great events taking place.On 8th December at the Beeches Community Centrein Bulford, and on 9th December at the LarkhillCommunity Centre you can join from 3.15pm tohave a go at making a wonderful Christmas lanternand then join us on a walk to the local woodlandwhere we will go on a starlit adventure together tofind Santa Claus! We also have an event planned on

22nd December where we’ll be walking from Larkhillcommunity centre at 7am to Stonehenge to join inwith the winter solstice celebrations, giving you a

chance to get up close and personal with thestones! The walk will be approximately 3 miles intotal and is suitable for all ages - however we wouldrecommend sturdy pushchairs for younger children.Booking is essential so if you are interested inattending an event then please email Lisa onlisam@wiltshirewildlife.org or call 07872 117384 tobook your place!

In 2012 we have many more exciting events plannedat a green space near you so keep your eyes openfor posters, or find us on Facebook by searching‘There is space here project’ and hitting the ‘like’button to receive regular updates about the project!In 2012 we’re also offering FREE outdoor playtraining events to parents, teachers, childcareproviders and community workers. If you’reinterested in finding out more about this trainingthen please send us an email onbethw@wiltshirewildlife.org.

There are endless opportunities to learn and enjoythrough the natural world and we hope that you’llcome and join us at one of our events to see justhow much fun it can be! If you would like moreinformation on any of these opportunities or areinterested in hearing about our events in 2012 thenplease email the project officer onbethw@wiltshirewildlife.org or call 07824 639634.

On 7th November 120 delegates gathered at theClare Foundation in Bucks for the inaugural SCSNAnnual Conference. With the central theme of‘Operational Deployments and its impacts on ServiceChildren’, the aim was to bring together a variety ofsubject matter expert speakers and delegates from awide range of fields to explore the issues thatparental deployments bring. SCSN were also pleasedto welcome the British Forces Broadcasting Service(BFBS) News Team who came along to film the eventand would broadcast the piece across the Forcesworld through their daily news programme.

Joy O’Neill opened proceedings with an overview ofSCSN, its aims and objectives, before I took the floorto give a basic explanation of what an operationaldeployment actually involves from the militaryperspective.

Our first guest speaker was Mike Hughesman of SCEGermany who discussed ‘Deployment Support’, partof the SCE strategy for the emotional well-being ofService children.

After a break for coffee, Mike was followed by DavidTrickey, a clinical psychologist who specialises in theimpacts of trauma and bereavement. David has awonderfully engaging style and he certainly gave theaudience a great deal to think about as he outlinedhow the human body reacts to traumatic events andwhy, in some cases, emotional problems can occurand how they can be addressed effectively.

SCSN Conference 2011

Operational Deployment andits impacts on Service Children

David was followed by Maj Lew Webb, a relationshipcounsellor with extensive experience of counsellingin a military context.

After a break for a buffet lunch, we reconvened for aseries of workshops and the delegates were dividedinto smaller groups. Each group rotated througheach workshop in turn. These included a sessionhosted by Ann Rowland, a Clinical Psychologist fromthe Child Bereavement Charity which consideredhow to support children who were bereaved as aresult of an operational deployment.

The groups were then given a presentation by ateam from the RAF Benson Community PrimarySchool which looked at strategies for supportingService pupils through operational deployments andtransitions. RAF Benson School has an almost uniqueperspective on Service childrens’ issues becausethey are ‘behind the wire’ on the RAF Station andalmost all their pupils are from Service families.

The final session was chaired by Joy O’Neill anddiscussed how to access further support resourcesand how to link effectively with other relevantagencies. Liza Wormell of the Bucks County Childrenand Young People’s Trust closed the session with apresentation about the Common AssessmentFramework (CAF) and how it can be used effectivelyto help ensure parity of treatment and support.

Kev O’Neill, SCSN Admin Director.

We are pleased to announce the setting up of a newpilot project for veterans and their families withinOxfordshire run by The Infant Parent PerinatalService, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Theproject targets parents (mother and/or father) in theperinatal period, that is, who are expecting a babyor have one child under 12 months. We recognisethat families of veterans sometimes have particularneeds for support in the perinatal period related totheir experiences at work (including long periods ofseparation due to postings and the impact ofadverse experiences for example Post TraumaticStress Disorder).

Research shows that early intervention in familiesexperiencing difficulties can have a dramaticbeneficial impact on family functioning andoutcomes for children, including more harmoniousparent-child relationships, better peer relationshipsand higher educational achievements. Whilst theremit of IPPS is to work with families who havechildren up to 12 months of age, older siblingswithin the family are also likely to benefit from thetherapeutic work via their parent’s increasedsensitivity and self awareness.

We are now taking referrals for this service so anyworkers or family members who think we may beable to help a family who fit the criteria (pregnant orwith a child under 12 months) please contact us on0845 219 1454

or email ipps@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Suffolk County Council has commissioned SCSNto deliver training in the county on the 24thand 25th February 2012.

The sessions entitled ‘Service Children: The implica-tions of Parental Deployment and High Mobility’  isavailable for practitioners who are working in Suffolkwith children and families in HM Forces. To apply forthe course go to www.suffolkcpd.co.uk using coursecode: SSC

A new project for Veteran’sfamilies with infants.

Forthcoming Event

A new subject has been put on the timetable for SCEschools in Germany: Afghanistan. Lessons weresuspended on cross-curricular days so that pupils atHohne Garrison schools could learn about life inAfghanistan – the country, its people and theirculture.

Mel Bradley who runs the Afghan Appeal Fund cameup with the idea and helped the schools to getgoing. Deputy Head Michelle Strong explained thethinking behind Gloucester School’s participation;“We feel that it is very important to raise awarenessabout what life is really like in Afghanistan amongboth pupils and staff. We have children whoseparents are deployed in Afghanistan and this is anideal opportunity for them to learn more about thecountry”.

Major Si Bradley RE started many of the schoolsessions off with a presentation to the pupils abouthis experience of the country. Two tours ofAfghanistan and his involvement with the AfghanAppeal Fund means that he is particularly wellqualified to talk about the region. “It was importantto get across something about the people inAfghanistan and their culture. The pupils were reallyinterested and seemed to get a lot out of it”.Various workshops took place, including Q&Asessions ‘shura-style’ – the traditional Afghanmeeting usually convened to discuss local disputes -

sitting on the floor around a rug served with chai(Afghan tea) and typical Afghan nibbles.

Designing and making kites was a very popularactivity, during which the children discovered howkite-flying has come to represent freedom inAfghanistan after being banned under the Taliban.The wearing of the burkha by Afghan women wasdebated by the older children, whilst all had theopportunity to try on the real thing along with othertraditional Afghan clothing.

‘Burkhas, Kites and Shuras’- Learning about Afghanistan

Christine Lea from Slim School said “Mel and Si wereable to give both the teachers and the children avaluable insight into the ‘real Afghanistan’. Thequality of the photographs and Si’s first-handknowledge added to the experience. All thepresentations were pitched perfectly so thateveryone gained more of an understanding of thecountry and its people. The children loved trying onthe Afghan clothing and tasting the snacks.”

Many of the schools involved have linked theAfghanistan Awareness project into fundraising forthe Afghan Appeal Fund – a British forces charityworking to improve education in Afghanistan,primarily by building schools there. MontgomerySchool auctioned off the beautiful Afghan artworkthe children had created along with celebrityautographs to raise an amazing £2000 for thecharity. Following the success of the project inHohne schools, Paderborn Garrison schools havealso taken it on board as many of their children’sparents make up the latest deployment toAfghanistan. Wilma Wilson, head teacher at WilliamWordsworth said “The materials, worksheets andideas are extremely informative and greatlyappreciated and we all look forward to working withour children and families to learn more about thisvast and diverse country; its scenery, music, food ,traditions and culture over the next six months.”

As well as the children gaining a betterunderstanding of Afghanistan, the children comeaway with a more positive outlook on their parents

deploying there, summed up perfectly by Katie aged10: “Before Afghanistan Day I didn’t even want tolearn about it. I hated the sound of it. Now I knowthat Afghanistan isn’t just about dying; our dad’s areheroes and we should be happy that they arehelping poor people.”

To find out more about this project or the AfghanAppeal Fund, please contact:Mel BradleyTel: 07777 606504Email: info@afghanappealfund.org.ukWeb: www.afghanappealfund.org.uk

Afghan Poppies - by Leanne McCarthy, 11,Shackleton School

A Great Stocking Filler!The SCSN Calendar 2012 is still available, on

sale in aid of Ten for Ten’ for only £8.00 plus p+p.You can order a copy from

contact@servicechildrensupportnetwork.com

Greetings Cards are also available!

Don’t Forget!..

October saw Joy and Kev O’Neill take an SCSNpresentation on the road to Cornwall and theNational Maritime Museum in Falmouth proved tobe an excellent venue.

Following up on requests from the area, Joy hadarranged an ‘Introductory Workshop’ which drewdelegates from across Cornwall and as far afield asPlymouth and Devon which of, course, has a verystrong affiliation with the Royal Navy, the RoyalMarines, and their families.

With particular focus on Transitions and Mobility,together with Operational Deployments and theirimpacts on Service children and their families, theday went very well. The audience were veryreceptive and keen to get as much as possible from

the event. They were open to new ideas and verywilling to share their own experiences with theirfellow delegates.

The discussions were lively and it was wonderful tosee such a range of people represented, fromHeadteachers, Governors and other school staff, toLA representatives, members of the militarycommunity in the South West and key professionalsfrom the NHS.

SCSN Sets Sailto Falmouth!

Joy discussing Postings and Transitions.

Kev enjoying a cuppa with Julia Pickerill,a Family Information Adviser from Falmouth

The venue was very comfortable and theMuseum made sure we had everythingwe needed.

Each brought their own particular perspective to thediscussions and were very willing to get involved asthe day developed. Many of the delegatescommented that they were concerned that althoughthere was a large military community in the region,due to the location of RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall,the navy dockyard at Devonport in Plymouth, as wellas the Royal Marines at Lympstone, they felt verycut off from sources of information and felt thatthey were unable to access additional support andtraining when they needed it.

Heather Ogburn, Snr Adviser, Services for Childrenand Young People, Plymouth City Council, then gaveus a very interesting presentation about ‘HMSHeroes’, a new initiative whereby Service Childrencan help to support each other (see the HMS Heroesarticle in this newsletter).

Kev O’NeillSCSN Admin Director

Post script: Feedback from the event was verypositive and it is clear that SCSN events will be wellreceived in this area in future.

SCSN has recently been informed that a bid forfinancial support from the Cornwall CommunityFund has been successful and we will be able tomount other training sessions in the County in theNew Year. Therefore, we are very keen to hearfrom members in Cornwall who have ideas thatthey wish SCSN to explore at the next event. Pleasee-mail us from the link on the SCSN website.

The Falmouth Event was subsidised using fundsfrom the Big Lottery.

Maj George Vosper of the TA sharinghis experiences with his fellow delegates.

Kev found the delegates were veryKeen to get involved in discussions.

Joy with John Pattison ofthe Devon NHS Trust.

We are delighted to announce the winners of theTen for Ten writing competition for schools that washeld this year. The theme for entries was ‘MissingYou’ and there were some wonderful entries fromall over the country. The judges were veryimpressed with the high standard that was set! Thepoems and stories were both thought provokingand extremely moving to read. The schools reportedthat the children had actively enjoyed this chance towrite about difficult feelings - something that theyare not often given the opportunity to do. Thejudges would like to congratulate all those who tookpart. After much deliberation the winners selectedwere:

5-6 Years Old

1st - Stephanie Lovatt-Williams,Leehurst Swan School.2nd - Joel Sempala-Ntege,Watchfield Primary School.

7-10 Years Old

1st - Alessandra Barbour,Leehurst Swan School.2nd - Leon Herring,Radey Primary School.

11-13 Years Old

1st - Thomad Whitbread,Cothill House School.2nd - Eva Gooderham,Needham Market Middle School.

Ten for Ten would also like to thank the judges offor giving up their valuable time, their enthusiasmand expertise: Jenny Lewis Poet, playwright andchildren's author who teaches poetry at OxfordUniversity; Veronica Thorneloe, mother of ColonelRupert Thorneloe who died in Afghanistan in 2009;

Michael Smith, former soldier, Defence Editor of theSunday Times and professional writer; Joy O'Neill,Service wife, mother and Founder of the ServiceChildren Support Network. We hope you enjoy thissmall selection of the winning entries.

Missing YouBy Joel Sempala-Ntege

When my dad went away,I felt very sad.

When I was four,My dad went to war

And I was very worried.

Missing YouBy Eva Gooderam

I asked if you could stay forever,but your reply was no,

I thought you would be there for me,why did you have to go?

Every night I pray to you,wishing I was not on my own,for you to come back to me,

to see how I have grown.

You taught me how to ride a bike,to walk and talk and swim,

To think that you have left me nowmakes my life feel grim.

I wonder if you think of meas often as I think of you,

But if you did I’d imagine you herestanding proudly next to me,

I hear you laugh, I hear you crybut never did I hear goodbye.

I asked if you could stay forever,but your reply was no.

Missing YouBy Leon Herring

When the wind blows and the dead leaves scuttle,I think of you.

When I’m lonely and scared,I think of you.

When I cry and I’m sad,I think of you.

When I dream at night,I think of you.

I will never forget you.

Writing Competition 2011-The Results!

Charity Number 1040419

Communicating with Children andYoung People Bereaved by Sudden Death

Regional Study Days throughout 2012An interactive study day which will consider the needs and issues relating to

children and young people bereaved by sudden death and the skills andresources required to support them. Kindly hosted by Irwin Mitchell LLP around England

between January and June 2012

Suitable for all those who come into contact with bereaved children and young people in the course of theirwork, whether in the statutory or voluntary sector

Venues:Irwin Mitchell LLP

Birmingham – JanuaryLeeds – FebruaryLondon – March

Manchester – AprilNewcastle – MaySheffield - June

For further details please contact:

CBC Training DepartmentEmail:

training@childbereavement.org.uk

Tel: 01494 568926

www.childbereavement.org.uk

Details of the day:10.00am – 4.00pm

(Registration 9.30am)FEE: £45

(To include refreshments& light lunch)

Kindly sponsored byIrwin Mitchell LLP

Programme to include:

· Children’s understanding  of death· How children and young people grieve· Particular challenges around sudden death· What you need to know about inquests· Creative ways of supporting children and young people· Examples of direct work with children and young people

· Managing our own feelings, and ways in which to support ourselves and our colleagues

BlueSkiesAheadWith

Clear Sky Children’sFoundation.

In 2002, Olivia was 9 years old. Sadly, she lost herMum and has since experienced high anxiety ineveryday situations and chronically low self-esteem which has continued into adulthood.

Conscious of the devastating affect of grief on herlittle sister, Sophia Giblin (25) did some researchinto the support strategies available that could havehelped Olivia. Sophia found that there was very littlepsychological support available for children andyoung people in the UK; and even less services thatare age appropriate. In 2010 Sophia founded ClearSky Children’s Foundation.

Amongst the services available in the UK, PlayTherapy is the most appropriate in meeting theneeds of children who are experiencing difficulties.Some schools employ counselling services, butunfortunately, talking therapies requiresophisticated verbal expression and the ability tothink abstractly. Play enables expression withoutthe restriction of making their creation verballycomprehensive.

‘Children express themselves more fully and moredirectly through self-initiated spontaneous playthan they do verbally because they are morecomfortable with play. For children to ‘play out’their experiences and feeling is the most naturaldynamic and self-healing process in which childrencan engage’

(Adapted from Landreth, 1991)

It is human nature to hold the desire for self-realisation and this comes about through thegrowth of one’s personality. Interactions from theenvironment alter the child’s perception of theworld on a daily basis and each experiencecontributes to the overall design of ‘the self’. If thechild experiences positive experiences, this child willlikely grow up to be well adjusted and self-assured.A child is ultimately positive; they are usually quickto forgive and forget negative experiences and,unless the experiences are particularly bad, they willaccept life as they find it with eagerness. Individualsstrive to fulfil basic needs and when these needs aredirectly met, the individual is said to be welladjusted. Virginia Axline, founder of thefundamental 8 principles of Play Therapy, statesthat:

‘When the seeking effort to satisfy these needs isblocked, devious paths are taken to bring aboutsatisfaction, and the individual is said to bemaladjusted’

(Axline, 1989)

Much of this self-realisation process is carried outbelow ‘surface level’. The child has a ‘concept’ ofthe individual he is striving to be, and problemsoccur when the actual individual and the conceptare different; the bigger the incongruence, the moremaladjusted the child is likely to be. Play Therapyassumes that the child has the ability to solve theirown problems and ‘grow’ and children inherentlystrive for good; i.e. mature behaviour is more

satisfying than immature. Non-Directive Therapyallows the child the permissiveness to bethemselves, without evaluation or pressure tochange. Therapists offer a non-judgementalreflection of the child’s actions so that the child isable to learn about themselves with the idea thatthe child will from their own opinions of theirbehaviour and ultimately, they will adapt theirbehaviour to be closer to the concept they hold ofthemselves. The therapy room allows the child toplay out their feelings, accept this as part of them,adapt the behaviour or abandon it completely.

The child is an individual in their own right; they arenot subject to the emotion of others and they areable to ‘spread their wings’ and take a good look atthemselves. Within the therapy room, the child isgiven the opportunity to channel this inner growth,becomes aware of their ability to solve their ownproblems, make their own choices and takeresponsibility for themselves in a way they have not

experienced. Within this, they experience feelings ofsecurity from a friendly therapist who offers totalpermissiveness, participation, acceptance andunderstanding.

Clear Sky’s mission has three main objectives.

� Clear Sky will provide a mobile Play Therapyservice in the form of a bespoke TherapyBus in order to ensure equal opportunitiesto therapy regardless of financial stature orgeographical location. Therapy will bedelivered based on referrals from teachers

and parents who feel children would benefitfrom Play Therapy. The bus and therapistwill be hired out by schools for a minimumof 1 day a week for 12 weeks; this allows fora maximum of six children in need to benefitfrom the recommended 12 sessions(subjectto review) required for a positive effect..

� Clear Sky aims to provide education andtraining for parents and professionalsworking directly with children. This will beachieved by providing workshops outliningthe benefits of play and techniques used tonurture a child’s opportunities for play.

� Clear Sky recognises the benefits of researchand aim to conduct and fund outsideresearch projects on Play Therapy and itseffectiveness.

� Play Therapy aims to help children to copeand come to terms with difficult issues suchas bereavement of a parent or sibling, divorce,separation, abuse, educational frustration andother feelings and emotions that at this tenderage may not be fully understood.

For someone like Olivia, Play therapy might haveprovided the opportunity to reject the feelings ofanxiety and to develop resilience that is soimportant in life. Many children of service men andwomen experience separation and loss. We feel thatPlay Therapy may be the key to promoting resiliencein these children and Clear Sky aim to enable themto develop their own sense of self without theconstraints of outside influences. Play allowschildren to be children for as long as possible.

Clear Sky hope to reach many children and addressthese issues at a young age in order to set childrenon the right path.

Currently, Clear Sky Children’s Foundation, based inOxfordshire, are applying for funding from the MODcommunity fund in order to make a dedicated effortin helping the children of service men and women.

Please contact info@clear-sky.org.uk or visit ourwebsite at www.clear-sky.org.uk for moreinformation.Follow us on Twitter for up to date news@ClearSkyCF

References:Axline, V.M. (1989) Play Therapy. Livingstone.Landreth, G. (1991) A Decade of APT NewslettersPart Two 1987-1991, Association of Play Therapy.

contactsFor more information please contact

SCSN

By telephone on: 01296 625779

By e-mail at:

contact@servicechildrensupportnetwork.com

Or visit our website:

www.servicechildrensupportnetwork.com

The Spring Issue will be published inMarch 2012.

An Appeal from the Editor. Thesenewsletters will only be asinformative and interesting as thearticles it contains so pleaseconsider submitting something forpublication. It doesn’t have to be amasterpiece of prose, just be ofinterest to your fellow members! Itmight describe a particular event youhave organised or attended, it mightdescribe work that you have carriedout or an issue that you wish to bringto wider attention. We are alsopleased to receive examples of workfrom the Service children in yourarea, a drawing or piece of poetryrelated to their lives perhaps. Pleasesubmit articles in word format(together with any pictures you wantto use) to The Chair.

Editorial Note:

The views expressed by thecontributors to this newsletter are notnecessarily those of the Editor,SCSN, the MOD or any otherorganisation. All precautions aretaken to ensure accuracy.

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