Service will help them adjust into civilian life

Forces Children Scotland has launched a support service to help families leaving the armed forces to make the transition to civilian life across central Scotland.

Titled Mindful Connections, the new service has received funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund to pilot holistic support which will help former armed forces families to make a successful transition to realise their potential and thrive in civilian life.

Working directly with families, the service team will support children, young people, and parents to galvanise relationships and provide support to better understand and enhance mental health and wellbeing, during what can prove an intense period of change and upheaval.

The service will work with families to meet specific education, learning, and employment support needs and to co-deliver social, sporting, and creative events to provide a platform for families to forge new connections and successfully integrate within civilian communities.

Mindful Connections aims to open a new discussion to raise greater awareness in military and civilian communities by providing opportunities for families to share lived experiences through a series of podcasts to help others going through similar situations.

Laura Falconer, Forces Children Scotland’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to launch our Mindful Connections service to help families leaving the armed forces to make a successful transition to civilian life.

“Having listened to the experiences of beneficiaries, we know the transition to civilian life presents a range of challenges; some of which are faced by the family as a whole but, in other cases, it will specifically relate to the children or adults.

“The holistic support provided through Mindful Connections aims to meet the unique support needs of all within the family and I greatly encourage those who have made the transition or will shortly do so to contact our team.”