I wasn’t sure how to announce this monumental news because it means so much to me personally and to the charity obviously but I felt I wanted to publicly acknowledge why it means so much. 

Little Troopers was told this week we have been successful in a £326,000 three year grant from The National Lottery for The Little Troopers Therapy Programme.

THIS IS HUGE NEWS

We have had a previous smaller grant from The National Lottery for a two year project to launch the therapy programme. The initial two year phase of the project concluded end of 2024 and this new grant means we can now grow the programme, reach many more military children and deliver the support that is so needed. 

This particular project means lots to me personally for a few reasons.

The first reason is my daughter needed this support and never got it because it didn’t exist. I asked all the avenues I thought I should for specific support for her and how military life and those challenges were impacting but hit brick walls. Her behaviours manifested and she did end up after a long road getting support from the NHS and receiving EMDR therapy when she was 16. I should mention this wasn’t solely due to military life, she experienced an injury doing a sport that she thought was her future and it meant that sport and her future plans had to change but military life compounded this scenario as her dad had to deploy unexpectedly in the middle and then we moved unexpectedly in the middle of her GCSE years. Madison needed this project and I knew there were many other military children out there that also needed this.

I truly believe if military life challenges are supported and children are nurtured through them, disadvantage doesn’t need to be felt. Yes, growing up as a military child can be different and bring hurdles but it can also bring a wealth of great qualities too. Looking after military children with targeted and specific support as they grow through these hurdles can be so beneficial to all. 

The second reason this news felt so special was because my brother who worked on projects across the charity had been fundamental in us receiving the initial grant from The National Lottery in early 2022. He helped shape the project plan, write the grant application and drew this illustration to get my aspirations on paper. 

This illustration was the therapy machine, the seed that grew the project that is now evolving.

My brother Mark took my ideas and together we put them on paper and this was created, that formed the project plan and then the grant application. 

Two years of the initial project followed.

My brother sadly died quite suddenly on 26th March 2023. He didn’t get to see the success of the project or be part of the second application but I received the phone call to say we had been successful on 26th March 2025….exactly two years since he died and to me that was a sign. I know he’s so proud of me but also the work we do and he loved being a part of Little Troopers. 

I can’t wait to tell you all more about the second phase of the project, the aim is to launch/open referrals again in late 2025 after a good six months of putting everything in place. We will be able to reach more of you, offer support to more military children as well as offer groups in schools and more resources. 

A huge thank you to The National Lottery for believing in our project, understanding the need and funding us to deliver a robust, country wide provision, we can’t wait to get going with this next phase of this worthwhile project. 

And to Mark…..I know you are rooting for me and everyone at Little Troopers from up there, we did it and you truly have been part of that.