Little Troopers Therapy Programme
referrals TEMporarily closed
The Little Troopers Therapy Programme is temporarily closed and we are not accepting new referrals.
The first two years of the programme ran as scheduled from July 2022 to July 2024, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The programme has been a success and there is clearly huge demand for this service in the Armed Forces community. We are now reviewing all the learnings and feedback from the first two years with the aim to relaunch a nationwide rolling programme in late 2024/early 2025.
In the meantime you can find our on-demand video series below which aims to help parents better support their children at home.
What is the Little Troopers Therapy Programme
The Little Troopers Therapy Programme supports the mental health and wellbeing of children whose parents serve in the British Armed Forces.
The tri-service Little Troopers Therapy Programme offers free one-to-one psychotherapy sessions specifically exploring the challenges that military life can bring, such as having a parent deployed or moving home and school frequently.
In the first two years of the programme, 100 children received six hours of 1:2:1 therapy.
What if I need help now?
The Little Troopers Therapy Programme is not for children in a mental health crisis. If your child is at current risk of life, then please take the following steps as soon as possible:
Contact your GP for an emergency appointment
Attend your local A&E/call 999
Contact your local crisis line for mental health 24hrs support
You can also text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free, to have an anonymous text conversation with a volunteer, which is run by a mental health charity as advised by the NHS.
Contact your local CYPMHS (Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services) HERE
Therapy Programme for military children
Our new Therapy Programme in England that supports the mental health and wellbeing of children whose parents serve in the British Armed Forces.
The tri-service Little Troopers Therapy Programme offers free one-to-one psychotherapy sessions in a programme and community therapy groups for older forces children who feel particularly impacted specifically by the challenges that military life can bring, such as having a parent deployed or moving home and school frequently.
There is also an on-demand video series available (see below) to help parents better support their children at home.
Please note that your email will only be picked up in usual working hours and we are unable to respond to any emergency or crisis communication. This project is not for children in a mental health crisis. If your child is at current risk of life, then please take the following steps as soon as possible:
- Contact your GP for an emergency appointment
- Attend your local A&E/call 999
- Contact your local crisis line for mental health 24hrs support
- You can also text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free, to have an anonymous text conversation with a volunteer, which is run by a mental health charity as advised by the NHS.
- Contact your local CYPMHS (Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services) HERE
One-to-one therapy sessions
Open to referrals for any school-age military children from reception through to 18, the bespoke military specific one-to-one therapy programme will include six hour-long therapy sessions with a qualified psychotherapist from The Owl Centre.
The CQC approved therapy centre has more than 550 clinicians across England, so the sessions will be delivered face-to-face at the child’s home or in a local space agreed with each individual family.
During the structured course, each child will explore their feelings and focus on a different military life topic each session including emotional regulation, uncertainty and change, relationships, resilience and life-story work.
*If you are Wales based please also apply but if awarded your programme will be funded differently*
GROUP workshop FOR TEENS
The one off group military workshops are aimed at military children Year 7 – Year 11 and will also be delivered in person by a qualified Owl Centre psychotherapist who will visit local youth clubs, cadet units, community centres, after school clubs and other community groups. Group leaders are able to apply for a session for up to ten military children.
Areas we can currently offer groups in; Abingdon, Shrivenham, Brize Norton, Poole, Oldham, Basingstoke, Oxford, Ashford in Kent, Stourbridge, Burnham in Bucks,
Hillingdon, Hertford, Cheltenham.
Parent video series deployment/separation
These on-demand videos are for any parents whose children haven’t yet been awarded a place on our 1-2-1 therapy programme or for parents who would like more information and activity ideas to better support your child at home.
This video is all about deployment and separation. Our therapists from The Owl Therapy Centre will explain a bit more about what your child might be feeling or going through and suggest some activities that you can do at home.
parent video series moving home/school
These on-demand videos are for any parents who haven’t yet been awarded a place on our 1-2-1 therapy programme or for parents who would like more information and activity ideas to better support your child at home.
This video is all about moving home and school, and how to deal with the uncertainty and change that can occur during this time.
parent video series nurturing resilience
These on-demand videos are for any parents who haven’t yet been awarded a place on our 1-2-1 therapy programme or for parents who would like more information and activity ideas to better support your child at home.
This video is all about being a military child. It’s really important to us as a charity that we stop the assumption that all military children are resilient. Resilience is something that can be nurtured but it will ebb and flow over time.
Referral Information
- Please complete all fields to the best of your knowledge
- This brief referral form will be accessed and a member of the Little Troopers team will be in touch within 10 days
- All successful referrals will be sent on to The Owl Centre who will be in touch directly to process the referral and arrange provision of therapy delivery
- The bespoke 121 therapy is to support military challenges faced, this is not a therapy programme for children in a mental health crisis situation needing immediate support.
- This funding is currently for England only based military families (Wales based can also apply)
Referral Information
- Please complete all fields to the best of your knowledge.
- This brief referral form will be accessed and a member of the Little Troopers team will be in touch within 10 days.
- All successful referrals will be sent on to The Owl Centre who will be in touch directly to process the referral and arrange your group session date and attendee information
- This is not a therapy programme for children in a mental health crisis situation needing immediate support
- This funding is currently for England only based military families, Wales based please still fill form in as we can forward your referral.
- Any questions please email [email protected]