CHILDREN from Colchester’s military families joined forces for a virtual workshop run by the charity Little Troopers.

More than 200 youngsters from four primary schools came together as part of a nationwide roadshow being delivered throughout June.

All the children have parents serving in the forces and they logged in together to explore some of the challenges they might experience, like having a parent deployed overseas and regularly having to move home and school.

All the workshop activities were delivered by the charity’s Little Troopers at School programme, created by education experts to give schools the resources to support military children.

Gazette: Support network - pupils from St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery, in Camulodunum Way, Colchester

Support network - pupils from St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery, in Camulodunum Way, Colchester

One of the schools taking part was St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery, in Camulodunum Way, Colchester.

Inclusion lead Julie Howlett said: “It’s so important we recognise and support our military children.

“The Little Troopers workshop provided a great opportunity to spend quality time with and celebrate our service pupils.

“They walked away from the afternoon recognising their special strengths and feeling appreciated as a part of the community.

Gazette: Feeling rightly proud - Maralise Lyon

Feeling rightly proud - Maralise Lyon

“As a military spouse myself, I understand the challenges and sacrifices families make so partners and parents can serve in the Armed Forces.

“Being able to support them as a school is a privilege we enjoy at St Michael’s.

“Thank you to Little Troopers for putting on a wonderful roadshow that benefited our pupils greatly. We can’t wait until the next one.”

The children took part in storytelling, imaginative play, movement and drama and were shown tools that could help them navigate some of the challenges they might face as military children, either now or in the future.

Gazette: Hard at work - children complete an activity worksheet

Hard at work - Demi Shaves (left) and friends complete an activity worksheet

The workshops were funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and offered schools a snapshot of some of the resources available in the Little Troopers Primary School Resource Pack and Military Child Wellbeing Course.

Louise Fetigan, the charity’s founder and operations manager, said: “We want to make sure that wherever children live and however many schools they go to, they can access support if they need it and that all schools have a good understanding of the unique challenges military life can bring.”

For more information visit www.littletroopers.net

Gazette: Fully focused - Demi Shaves

Fully focused - Michelle Appiah

Gazette: Special strengths - Teddy Hook

Special strengths - Teddy Hook

Gazette: Big smiles - Bella Clarke enjoys her day

Big smiles - Bella Clarke enjoys her day

Gazette: Class act - these children enjoyed the workshop

Class act - these children enjoyed the workshop

READ MORE: