Launching the New Little Troopers Therapy Programme: To Support Over 1,000 Military Children Across England
I’m excited to share that Little Troopers is launching a brand-new, expanded Therapy Programme. A dedicated, military-specific therapeutic service that will support more than 1,000 military children and young people across England over the next couple of years.
This programme is so important and so needed. My own daughter went through various periods in her military childhood where her wellbeing suffered and I knew that tailored therapeutic support would have helped her navigate the reality of having her dad away repeatedly, alongside the many moves that meant constant changes in school environments and friendships. I wanted military children to have access to something created for them, something understanding, tailored and lasting.
Between 2022 and 2024, we ran a small but powerful pilot of the Little Troopers Therapy Programme, supporting around 120 military children with one-to-one therapy. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Families, schools and practitioners told us how vital this support was and how much children needed a space that truly understood the emotional impact of military life.
That pilot proved what we already knew: military children deserve therapeutic support made specifically for them.
One parent shared:
“I was amazed by what the Little Troopers Therapy Programme provided and I can’t fault any part of it. It made such a difference at a challenging time in our lives. Having a safe space to talk about his feelings, worries and questions with someone outside our family was exactly what he needed. The sessions were completely tailored to Sam’s needs and went at his own pace.”
“When the moving day came, he was still sad, but it was manageable and I have no doubt this was because of the therapy sessions. He settled really quickly into the new place, and I think it was the Little Troopers Therapy Programme that made all the difference.”
We were thrilled to have secured substantial National Lottery funding to expand this work into a three-year national programme running from 2025 to 2028. This funding means we can reach children in communities across England with both:
- One-to-one therapeutic support (six-session programme)
- Group sessions (three themed workshops for 8–10 children)
This is a huge moment for our charity and for the many families hoping for more accessible, military-aware therapeutic support.
A New Partnership with Broad Horizons
To deliver this expanded programme and following a thorough procurement process, we are delighted to be partnering with Broad Horizons, specialists in therapeutic work with children and young people. Their professionally registered counsellors and psychotherapists are trained in our military-focused model, ensuring every child receives safe, sensitive and tailored support.
Why Military-Specific Therapy Matters
Military life throughout childhood is unique and so are the emotional challenges that come with it. Children may experience:
- Repeated parental absence
- Deployment and reunion cycles
- Frequent relocations and school transitions
- Disrupted routines
- Parental stress
- Worry about safety or change
These experiences can shape how a child regulates emotions, how safe they feel in the world, their behaviour and their confidence in navigating friendships, school and home life.
The Little Troopers Therapy Programme is designed specifically with these realities in mind. Our aim is to ensure military children do not face disadvantage, and that they have the tools and strategies to help them navigate the often-challenging situations they encounter throughout their military childhood.
What the Programme Offers
This is a light-touch, six-session individual therapeutic intervention providing early, developmentally attuned support through:
- Play and creativity
- Emotional learning
- Routine-building
- Strengthening connection
- Coping strategies tailored to military life
Core themes explored include:
- Emotional literacy
- The sensory impact of emotions
- Relationships and connection
From there, sessions adapt to each child’s needs and may explore:
- Making friends and building connections
- Deployment and reunion
- Family dynamics
- Moving home or school
- Night-time worries and separation anxiety
- Identity and belonging
Types of Support Available
- One-to-one therapy
A personalised programme of six face-to-face sessions with the child, with parents included throughout the process and resources to empower post-delivery to continue the work at home.
- Group workshops
Three themed sessions designed for small groups of 8–10 military children, offering shared connection, emotional learning and peer support.
We are starting with a soft launch, opening for referrals in December 2025, with delivery commencing in February 2026. We cannot wait to begin supporting children through this new, expanded chapter.
This programme is something I have long dreamed of delivering on a wider scale and seeing it come to life with the right funding, partners and expertise feels incredibly special.
Military children show extraordinary resilience every day. Our hope is that this programme gives them the space, tools and emotional support they deserve as they navigate the unique challenges of service life.
